When wire, strand, or wire rope is preformed, it is run over a series of rollers that add curvature to the piece. This curvature adds a disctinct look to the product and it is very similar to what you've seen in math class (think sine waves). If you look at the picture to the left, we have traced the path of one strand through the performing head while closing a wire rope. This curvature to the strands going into the wire rope lowers the propensity of the rope to rotate along its own axis. In layman’s terms: it holds the wires and strands together to prevent “flying,” which you can see when you cut a nylon or hemp rope.
Preforming cable and wire rope essentially helps keep everything together, and preforming often occurs at every step of the process. Wire is preformed to make strand, and strand preformed to make rope. No more split ends! Not only does preformed rope not fly apart on you, it will also give you longevity in applications where fatigue becomes a factor. Cool stuff, isn’t it? So when someone asks you, “What on Earth is Preformed strand or Wire Rope,” you can tell them exactly what it is.
Well, we hope this answers any questions you may have about preforming. If you still have any questions, feel free to Contact a Product Manager and they will help you out. And as always, if you have any questions at all, please Email Us and we will do everything in our power to assist.