Central Wire offers shaped and profile wire in a variety of forms ranging from oval and rectangular, to pentagonal and triangular. Shaped wires are found in a wide range of industries such as medical and manufacturing, yet their distinctive characteristics are often underappreciated. Engineered to perform specific tasks, exhibit different physical properties, and offer unique benefits, each style of wire is employed for its strengths. Here’s how three different shaped wires are used every day.
Half-round Wire
Half-round wire is used extensively in the production of cotter pins, also known as split pins. Cotter pins are manufactured from one continuous piece of half-round wire that loops at one end. The round edge of the half-round wire faces outward, and the flat edge faces inward, creating a smooth, tight surface on the interior of the pin. This allows for easy installation and removal as the pin moves through clevis pins or drilled holes. For products that require both round and flat surfaces in one unit, half-round wire is an effective solution.
Square wire
Square wire has become the ideal wire shape for orthodontic archwire, which is used to move and manipulate teeth. The square shape allows the teeth to slide as they would with round wire — with minimal obstructing friction — but the corners provide more torque. This controls the rotation of the teeth and prevents undesirable pivoting or tilting. For applications that need the same benefits of round wire but with slightly more control, square wire is a helpful alternative.
Wedge Wire
Wedge wire is commonly found in screens that separate solids from liquids. Used in a variety of industries ranging from agricultural to manufacturing, these screens can separate manure in fertilizer, or particles from fruit juice. Wedge wire is an efficient choice for these screens because it reduces clogging by creating a continuous gap along the length of the filter, compared to traditional mesh screens that more rapidly accumulate material. The v-shaped wedge wires are welded to the structural frame of the screen, making them sturdy and reliable, resistant to high pressure, and easy to backflush. For heavy-duty filters that outperform traditional mesh, wedge wire is a strong option.
While traditional round wire excels in many applications, shaped wire offers a wide breadth of added benefits from rotation control to smooth handling. For more information about CWI shaped wire, visit https://centralwire.co.uk/products/profiled-wire/ or contact us at https://centralwire.co.uk/contact/
