Calculating Reel Capacity

SHIPPING REEL CAPACITY
While it is virtually impossible to calculate the precise length of wire rope that can be spooled on a reel or drum, the following provides a sufficiently close approximation.

where:
L =	length of rope (ft)
A =	depth of rope space on drum (inches)
B =	width of drum between flanges (inches)
D =	drum barrel diameter (inches)
K =	constant for given rope diameter (see table below)
x =	clearance

"K" FACTORS**
(0.2618 divided by rope diameter (squared)

Diam (inches)	K	Diam (inches)	K	Diam (inches)	K
1/16	49.8	1/2	0.925	1-3/8	0.127
3/32	23.4	9/16	0.741	1-1/2	0.107
1/8	13.6	5/8	0.607	1-5/8	0.0886
5/32	8.72	11/16	0.506	1-3/4	0.0770
3/16	6.14	3/4	0.428	1-7/8	0.0675
7/32	4.59	13/16	0.354	2	0.0597
1/4	3.29	7/8	0.308	2-1/8	0.0532
5/16	2.21	1	0.239	2-1/4	0.0476
3/8	1.58	1-1/8	0.191	2-3/8	0.0419
7/16	1.19	1-1/4	0.152	2-1/2	0.0380

* This formula is based on uniform rope winding on the reel. It will not give correct results if the winding is non-uniform. The formula also assumes that there will be the same number of wraps in each layer. While this is not strictly correct, there is no appreciable error in the result unless the traverse of the reel is quite small relative to the flange diameter ("H").

** The values given for "K" factors take normal rope oversize into account. Clearance ("x") should be about 2 inches unless rope-end fittings require more.