How to calculate the loading capacity of a cable reel

It's very common thing to calculate if the reel or spools can contain the required length cable and wire for wire and cable factories. This article provides a relatively simple method to calculate the approximate maximum length for a reel.

How does this way come?

Normally, the cable and wire arrange uniformly and compactly, one by one, and layer by layer, as shown in Figure 1.

You can think of the cross-section of the wire or cable as a square. It takes the same space of the circular section. In other words, you can think your cable as a “square cable”, which arrange uniformly and compactly, one by one, and layer by layer.

Here is the key point, all your “square cable” takes the total volume of the reel or spool. If we know the total volume of the reel or spool, and the volume of per unit length for the “square cable”, we will calculate the length of the “square cable”. And this is the approximate maximum length for a reel. Here we will calculate cable reels capacity.

First, calculate the Effective Volume of the reel,
as shown in Figure 2.
Vreel =(π×R²-π×r²) ×C
=π×(R²– r²) ×C
=π×(R- r) (R+ r)×C
=π×A×(A+B)×C
Volume of length unit cable or wire.
Vcable=1×D²


 

         L = Length of the cable or wire
          A = Desired depth of winding
               The depth of winding is less than the
               depth of flange, and it need to be the
               Integer multiple of cable or wire diameter                               B = Diameter of Barrel
         C = Width between the inner sides of the flanges                     D = Diameter of the cable and wire

All the length unit of A, B, C, D must be same, and then the length unit of L is the same one. For example, length unit of A, B, C, D is “mm”, then the length unit of L is “mm” too. inch is the same. When you get the length, you can change it as yard, meter and others.

Calculate cable reels capacity

Worked example:
Steel reel Dimension: A=180mm, B=400mm, C=500mm
Cable diameter: D=20mm

We calculate cable reels capacity now. The reel can hold 409 meters 20mm diameter cable.

In addition, if you want to buy steel reels for cable and wire, please contact Nriss professional team.