Wire Drawing

Wire drawing is the process by which the wire is stretched and shaped. Wire is threaded through a diamond or carbide die and then wrapped around a capstan in the drawing machine. This capstan turns, and stretches the wire with its pull. The capstan is designed to take up the 12 to 30% increase in footage after the wire passes through the die. The wire drawing machine many contain from one to twenty-one dies, depending upon the finish diameter of the wire and its hardness. Each subsequent die is followed by a capstan of greater size than the previous capstan .

The friction and heat created by the passage of the wire through the die will wear or break the die eventually, so these wires and dies are submerged in a lubricant or the lubricant is sprayed on the wire and die to reduce the damage or wear.

Ken-tron wire is close tolerance, high quality wire which has to meet exacting tolerances, so each batch is tested for consistency in diameter and any die found to produce less than acceptable conformity is sent to the die shop for reshaping.

Brass Wire Phosphor Bronze Hastelloy C276 Haynes 25

Incoloy 825 Kovar Nickel Nickel Plated Steel Wire

Stainless Steel Wire 316LVM 52 Alloy [other material]

The Ken-tron Wire Division specializes in small diameter close tolerance wire made to customer specifications. Ken-Tron manufactures to your custom specifications.