Wire Rope FAQ's - Quality Testing
An in-depth look at how Wire Rope is tested for quality.
The HotWire answers your questions about wire, wire rope, and cable assemblies! This edition is on Proof loading.
Here at the Hotwire, we often find ourselves clarifying questions that customers have about our products. Over the years, there have been numerous times when we've been asked the following question:
I see that you manufacture custom cable assemblies, and you proof load them. What exactly is proof loading?
You are correct, we have been manufacturing cable assemblies for well over fifty years now. In that time, we've seen just about everything you could imagine about cable assemblies. If a terminal is swaged onto a cable correctly, it should hold to the cables minimum breaking strength. But, if it hasn't been swaged properly, the fitting can slip or break.
Safety and quality being our first and foremost concerns, we vigorously test our cable assemblies. One such test is when we proof load our cable assemblies. But what does this actually entail? In our Cable Technology Division, we have a flatbed tester that applies tension to the assembly (Often to 60% of Min. Breaking Strength). One we reach the appropriate tension, we release the tension and inspect the assembly for signs of failure (Slipped hardware, wire breaks, etc). We don't stop there though.
Not only do we proof load our assemblies, but we will also take them to their breaking point. When we manufacture your cable assemblies, we always ensure that we make one extra. This extra assembly is used as the breaker of the lot. This assembly is tested on another machine that places it under increasing tension, until it finally fails. The combination of these two tests, along with our other tests ensure that your product is fit for usage.
Pictured: Break Tester
Well folks, that was a relatively easy explanation this time! Keep your questions coming, and we'll do our best to answer them in future editions of the HotWire FAQ!