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The Book of Terms

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The Book of TermsThe WJI Book of Wire & Cable Terms: an interactive experience of learning and sharing
This book, written by industry volunteers and containing more than 5,000 entries, is an asset for newcomers to wire and cable.

At the same time, it also represents an opportunity for industry veterans to give back by either updating or adding to the more than 5,000 entries. This is an honor system process. Entries/updates must be non-commercial, and any deemed not to be so will be removed. Share your expertise as part of this legacy project to help those who will follow. Purchase a printed copy here.

   

 

0-9   A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Lanolin

A grease used as a wiredrawing lubricant and as a basis for grease-type rust preventives. Also known as wool fat or degras.

Lap

1) Folds of metal due to over-filling of any given rod rolling pass which are folded over and rolled in on entry into the next pass. The lap becomes apparent in the finished rod after further cold working or when standard metallurgical tests are carried out. 2) Turns of wire round a capstan or block.

Lap Weld

A weld formed by overlapping two pieces of wire and joining them at the overlap.

Lap Winding

An armature winding in which opposite ends of each coil are connected to adjoining segments of the commutator. The windings thus overlap.

Lap Wound

See Taped Insulation.

Lap Wrap

Tape wrapped around an object to give an overlapping construction.

Lapping

1) Winding one wire round another. 2) A polishing process due to the relative motion between a soft surface, in which an abrasive is embedded, and the surface to be polished, as in the polishing of wiredrawing dies.

Lapping Machines

1) Machines used for wrapping paper or fabric around a wire for in­sulation purposes. 2) Machines used to polish surfaces, a process known as lapping.

Laps

1) Folds of metal due to over-filling of any given rod rolling pass which are folded over and rolled in on entry into the next pass. The lap becomes apparent in the finished rod after further cold working or when standard metallurgical tests are carried out. 2) Turns of wire round a capstan or block.

Laser Gauging

A means of measuring wire or parts using a laser. The generated beam is interrupted when a part is placed between the emitting source and the receiver. The resultant shadow will give an accurate measurement of diameter, length, etc.

Latex

Rubber material used as insulation for wire.

Launders

Used to transfer molten metal from the holding furnace to the casting machine. Metal flow is metered automatically from the furnaces into the launders and then into casting chamber.

Lavits Process

An annealing process that uses immersion in a bath of molten salts heated by the passage of a current of electricity through the salts.

Law of Charges

Like charges repel, unlike charges attract.

Law of Magnetism

Like poles repel, unlike poles attract.

Lay

1) The distance taken to complete one revolution of helically laid strands or wires around a central core. 2) The manner in which wires are helically laid into strands or strands into rope. 3) Part of a weaving loom, also known as a slay or batten, which operates horizontally across the loam and which beats the wire into position during cloth weaving.

Lay Direction

The twist in a cable or strand as indicated by the top strands or wires while looking along the axis of the cable away from the observer. Described as right hand or left hand.

Lay Factor

The increase in weight of the cable due to a particular lay length.

Lay Length

The distance required to complete one revolution of helically laid strands or wire.

Lay Ratio

The ratio of the axial length of a complete turn of the helix formed by the wire of a stranded conductor to the mean diameter of the helix.
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