Steel containing over 0.5 percent chromium.

A wire often used for motor valve springs and other high-quality springs. Contains up to 1.5 percent chromium and about 0.15 percent vanadium.

Designation for Cast Iron.

Tape insulation wrapped longitudinally instead of spirally over a conductor.

The wrapping of a material longitudinally instead of spirally over a conductor. The material is added to insulate the conductor or separate the conductor from the insulation material that is applied over the wrap.

A wire bent round to form the greater part of a circle, used for retaining gears, sleeves, etc., in position.

A complete path over which electrons can flow from the negative terminals of a voltage source through parts and wires to the positive terminals of the same voltage source. When the continuity of the circuit is broken it is called an open circuit.

A switch that automatically interrupts a circuit upon predetermined abnormal conditions such as overcurrent, undervoltage, etc.

One foot of circuit. For example, if one has a three-conductor circuit, then each linear foot of circuit would have three circuit feet.

A popular term for building wire sizes 14 through 10 AWG.

A unit of measure used to define the area of a wire. The area of a circle one 1/1000 of an inch (3.9 x 10-5mm.) in diameter. As the number of circular mils increases, the size of a wire in­creases.

Designation for Center Line.

A method of bonding a layer, or layers, of metal over another metal. This bonding may be done by co-rolling, thermal spray coating, heavy chemical deposition or heavy electroplating. Cladding is formed to impart specific properties to the outer layer, i.e., increased wear and corrosion resistance. For some end uses, the material must be reduced in the drawing process without any change in the cross-sectional propor­tions of the two metals.

In a resistance welding machine, the device which clamps the components to be welded and conducts the current to them. Also known as contact-jaw.

The gravity separation of particulate matter from a liquid. It is typically used for cleaning metalworking coolants for either disposal or re-use.

See Stranding, Class.

Term used to describe the cosmetic quality of drawn wire, which is bright, and relatively free of lubricant residue from drawing.

See Pickling Plant.

A chemi­cally clean surface is essential for electro­plating. This means that organic mineral, vegetable and animal oils and fats processes as well as inorganic contaminants, such as corrosion products and metallic oxides, swarf particles, abrasive residues and other products must be removed after forming and fabricating. Common methods for continuous plating (nickel or zinc) of wire include use of alkaline electrolytic or ultra-sound de­greasing. Acid pickling is often used if the wire has to be annealed after pre-drawing and before plating. Making the last draft before heat treatment in either emulsion or water also makes it easier to clean before plating.

See entries for Pickling, Descaling and Electrolytic Cleaning.