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Just read that the average elevator cable has over 200 individual wires per strand
Found it in an old spec sheet for a 1980s Dover traction machine I was working on. Does that number seem high to anyone else, or is it pretty standard across the board?
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the_jana7mo ago
That's actually pretty standard for traction elevators. The cables need to be incredibly strong and flexible at the same time. So the high wire count makes total sense.
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william_garcia7mo ago
Wow, that old spec sheet brings back memories. I once saw a cable snap during a test, and the way all those tiny wires frayed was wild, like a steel rope exploding. Good point from @the_jana about the strength and flexibility, because that's exactly why they build them like that. It's a lot of wires, but when you see what they go through, the number starts to make sense.
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jade_jenkins7mo ago
Reminds me of the time I tried to fix a bike brake cable and ended up with a handful of tiny metal splinters. Makes you really respect the engineering that goes into the real deal. Guess I'll stick to admiring from a safe distance.
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robin6286mo ago
Seriously? A steel rope exploding... sounds a bit dramatic. It's just a bunch of wires breaking, not an action movie. I get they need to be strong, but all this talk makes it seem way more intense than it probably is.
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