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Wire Rope Selector

Get the right wire rope diameter for lifting slings — or the right rope grade for towing and equipment transport. Breaking force per ISO 2408, safety factors per ISO 4308 mechanism classes.

Selector ISO 2408 ISO 4308 GB 8918
1

Load & sling arrangement

→ force per leg
Angle between sling leg and vertical
Slings normally use Zp ≥ 6
2

Rope specification

→ breaking force
Sets breaking force factor K (ISO 2408)
⚠ Sling angles above 45° sharply increase leg force and are best avoided. At 60° each leg carries twice the vertical share.

How this selector works

Both modes follow the same three steps: compute the rope tension, multiply by a safety factor to get the required minimum breaking force, then find the smallest standard rope whose ISO 2408 breaking force exceeds it.

Lifting slings mode

The force in each sling leg grows with the sling angle — the same load pulls harder on angled legs:

S = W · g / (neff · cos β)
W = load (t) · neff = effective legs (3- and 4-leg slings count as 2 unless equalized) · β = angle to vertical. At 45°, each leg carries 1.41× its vertical share.

Towing & transport mode

S = W · g · (μ · cos θ + sin θ)
μ = friction coefficient (sliding ≈ 0.15–0.20, rolling ≈ 0.05–0.10) · θ = slope angle. On a slope, gravity adds a component along the pull direction.

From tension to rope diameter

Fmin required = S × Zp
Fmin(kN) = K × d² × Rr / 1000  →  d = √(1000 · Fmin / (K · Rr))
ISO 2408 minimum breaking force. K = 0.356 (IWRC steel core) or 0.330 (fiber core) for 6×36 class · Rr = rope grade (N/mm²) · d in mm, rounded up to the next standard diameter.

The shackle suggestion (lifting mode) picks the smallest standard bow shackle whose working load limit covers the leg force.

Application / mechanism classMinimum ZpNotes
M1–M3 hoisting mechanisms3.55 – 4.0Light, infrequent duty
M4 mechanisms4.0
M5 mechanisms4.5
M6 mechanisms5.6Heavy duty hoists
M7 mechanisms7.1
M8 mechanisms9.0Severe continuous duty
Wire rope slings (lifting)≥ 6.0Typical statutory minimum
Towing / equipment transport4 – 65.0 common practice

Zp values per ISO 4308-1 for running ropes; sling minimums per common national lifting regulations. Always follow the standard governing your site.

Rope Ø (mm)Fmin — 1770 IWRC (kN)Fmin — 1770 FC (kN)≈ Max sling leg load @ Zp=6 (t)

Computed from ISO 2408: Fmin = K·d²·Rr/1000 with K = 0.356 (IWRC) / 0.330 (FC). Manufacturer catalog values may differ slightly — always verify against the rope certificate.

Based on ISO 2408 breaking force formula and ISO 4308-1 safety factor classes. This tool gives a design-stage reference; final rope selection must be verified against the rope manufacturer's certificate and the regulations governing your site. © Kinocranes.

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