6×49SWS Steel Wire Rope

6×49SWS Steel Wire Rope Sizes:

6×49SWS Steel Wire Rope Sizes

Nominal Diameter	Weight (kg/100m)			Nominal Tensile Strength of Rope (MPA)
				1570		1670		1770		1870		1960
				Minimum Breaking Load of Rope (kn)
(mm)	NF	SF	IWR/IWS	FC	IWR/IWS	FC	IWR/IWS	FC	IWR/IWS	FC	IWR/IWS	FC	IWR/IWS
6	13.7	13.4	15	18.6	20.1	19.8	21.4	21	22.6	22.2	23.9	23.2	25.1
8	24.3	23.7	26.8	33.2	35.8	35.3	38	37.4	40.3	39.5	42.6	41.4	44.6
9	30.8	30.1	33.9	42	45.3	44.6	48.2	47.3	51	50	53.9	52.3	56.5
10	38	37.1	41.8	51.8	55.9	55.1	59.5	58.4	63	61.7	66.6	64.6	69.7
11	46	44.9	50.6	62.7	67.6	66.7	71.9	70.7	76.2	74.7	80.6	78.2	84.4
12	54.7	53.4	60.2	74.6	80.5	79.4	85.6	84.1	90.7	88.9	95.5	93.1	100
13	64.2	62.7	70.6	87.6	94.5	93.1	100	98.7	106	104	113	109	118
14	74.5	72.7	81.9	102	110	108	117	114	124	121	130	126	136
16	97.3	95	107	133	143	141	152	150	161	158	170	165	178
18	123	120	135	168	181	179	193	189	204	200	216	209	226
20	152	148	167	207	224	220	238	234	252	247	266	258	279
22	184	180	202	251	271	267	288	283	305	299	322	313	337
24	219	214	241	298	322	317	342	336	363	355	383	372	402
26	257	251	283	350	378	373	402	395	426	417	450	437	471
28	298	291	328	406	438	432	466	458	494	484	522	507	547
30	342	334	376	466	503	496	535	526	567	555	599	582	627
32	389	380	428	531	572	564	609	598	645	632	682	662	714
34	439	429	483	599	646	637	687	675	728	713	770	747	806
36	492	481	542	671	724	714	770	757	817	800	863	838	904
38	549	536	604	748	807	796	858	843	910	891	961	933	1007
40	608	594	669	829	894	882	951	935	1010	987	1070	1034	1116
42	670	654	737	914	986	972	1050	1030	1110	1090	1170	1140	1230
44	736	718	809	1000	1080	1070	1150	1130	1220	1190	1290	1252	1350
46	804	785	884	1100	1180	1170	1260	1240	1330	1310	1410	1368	1476
48	876	855	963	1190	1290	1270	1370	1350	1450	1420	1530	1490	1607
50	950	928	1050	1300	1400	1380	1490	1460	1580	1540	1660	1617	1744
52	1030	1000	1130	1400	1510	1490	1610	1580	1700	1670	1800	1748	1886
54	1110	1080	1220	1510	1630	1610	1730	1700	1840	1800	1940	1886	2034
56	1190	1160	1310	1620	1750	1730	1860	1830	1980	1940	2090	2028	2188
58	1280	1250	1410	1740	1880	1850	2000	1960	2120	2080	2240	2175	2347
60	1370	1340	1500	1870	2010	1980	2140	2100	2270	2220	2400	2328	2511

How Do You Choose the Right 6×49 SWS Steel Wire Rope?

A 6×49 SWS steel wire rope is a specialized choice for heavy lifting. It has 6 strands, each with 49 wires in a Seale Warrington pattern, plus an independent wire rope core (IWRC). This design offers excellent flexibility and resistance to crushing on drums.

Understanding this rope is key to making a safe and cost-effective purchase. I often find that clients, even experienced ones like Mark, appreciate a clear breakdown of the specifications. It helps them see exactly what they are buying. So let’s look deeper into what makes this particular rope construction so special for certain jobs. Knowing these details helps you get the right product and avoid delays.

What Does the ‘6×49 SWS’ Code Actually Mean?

The code is actually quite simple when you break it down. ‘6×49’ means 6 strands with 49 wires in each strand. ‘SWS’ stands for Seale Warrington Strand, a special wire pattern. It almost always includes an ‘IWRC’ (independent wire rope core) for added strength and support.

When I talk to buyers, the first thing we do is go over the specifications. For a business owner like Mark, getting the correct specifications is crucial. A mistake here can cause major problems later on. This simple code tells you almost everything you need to know about the rope’s performance.

Let’s break it down further.

Code	Meaning	Benefit
6	The rope has 6 outer strands.	This is a standard configuration for many ropes.
49	Each strand is made of 49 individual wires.	More wires mean greater flexibility.
SWS	Seale Warrington Strand.	A combination pattern for balanced performance.
IWRC	Independent Wire Rope Core.	A small wire rope at the center for strength.

The Core is Key

The core is the center of the wire rope. Many ropes, like some 6×37 versions we sell, have a Fiber Core (FC). An FC is good for flexibility. But for heavy-duty work, an Independent Wire Rope Core (IWRC) is much better. The IWRC is a separate, smaller wire rope. It provides solid support to the outer strands. This support is very important. It stops the rope from getting squashed flat when it’s wound onto a winch drum under a heavy load.

The Strand Pattern Matters

SWS, or Seale Warrington Strand, is a special design. It is a type of wire pattern combination. The ‘Seale’ part means it has large outer wires. These big wires are good at resisting abrasion and wear. The ‘Warrington’ part means some layers have wires of different sizes sitting next to each other. This helps make the strand more compact and flexible. Combining these two patterns into SWS gives you a rope with good wear resistance and flexibility. It is a high-performance design for tough jobs.

How Does 6×49 SWS Compare to 6×19 and 6×37 Ropes?

It’s all about trade-offs. A 6×49 rope is more flexible than a 6×19 rope but has smaller outer wires, so that it may wear faster. It is more crush-resistant than a 6×37 rope. The best choice always depends entirely on your specific lifting job.

I have many conversations with buyers about this. I remember Mark asking about the differences for a new line of cranes his company was developing. He needed to be sure he was supplying his own customers with the best possible option. Explaining the differences clearly helped him make the right choice.

Here is a simple table to show the main differences.

Feature	6×19 Class	6×37 Class	6×49 SWS
Flexibility	Good	Better	Excellent
Abrasion Resistance	Excellent	Good	Better
Crush Resistance	Good	Better	Excellent

Flexibility vs. Abrasion Resistance

This is the main trade-off. A rope with more wires, such as the 6×37 or 6×49 class, is more flexible. This is great for applications where the rope bends over many pulleys or sheaves. The smaller wires bend more easily. On the other hand, a rope with fewer, larger outer wires, like our 6×19 Bull Rope, is better at resisting abrasion. The big wires can withstand more scraping and wear before breaking. You must decide which is more important for your application.

The Importance of Crush Resistance

Crush resistance is critical for any rope that is wound onto a drum. This is where 6×49 SWS with an IWRC really shines. When a rope is spooled under load, especially when multiple layers are used, the pressure is immense. Ropes with less support, such as those with a fiber core, can flatten or be crushed. This damages the rope, making it unsafe. The IWRC in a 6×49 rope acts like a steel foundation, helping the rope keep its round shape. This is a common failure point that I always warn my customers about.

What are the Best Applications for 6×49 SWS Wire Rope?

You should use 6×49 SWS wire rope for demanding jobs that need high flexibility and high crush resistance. It is perfect for the main and auxiliary hoist lines on cranes, especially when the rope is spooled onto a drum under a heavy load.

The right application is everything for performance and safety. When a client contacts me for a rope, my first question is always, “What exactly will you be doing with it?” The answer tells me which construction to recommend. For someone who distributes lifting equipment, providing the end user with the correct rope is essential to their reputation.

Crane Hoist Lines

This is the number one use for 6×49 SWS rope. A crane’s hoist line is always in motion. It runs over sheaves at the top of the boom and then spools onto the winch drum. It needs to be flexible to handle the bending. It needs to be crush-resistant to handle the spooling. The 6×49 SWS construction is designed for this exact cycle. It provides a long service life and a high level of safety in these dynamic, high-stress conditions. It is the go-to choice for many mobile cranes and overhead factory cranes.

Scenarios to Avoid

This rope is not the best choice for every situation. For stationary jobs, like mast stays or guy wires, its high flexibility is not needed. A stiffer rope,,such ase a 6×7 or 6×19 constructio,n, would be a more cost-effective choice. Also, if the rope will be dragged over rough surfaces and abrasion is the biggest problem, a 6×19 rope with its larger outer wires would likely last longer. I always make sure my customers understand this. It prevents problems and builds trust. It also ensures they get the right certification for the right application, which I know is a major focus for international buyers.