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The Book of Terms

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.

   

 

All   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

McQuaid-Ehn Test

A test for revealing a material’s grain size. A sample is heated to 927°C for eight hours, then allowed to cool. The treatment causes the grains of the steel to be outlined sharply when polished, etched and viewed under a microscope. There are eight standard grain sizes, from No. 1 (very coarse) to No. 8 (very fine).

MCX

Designation for moisture cure extrusion.

MDPE

Designation for Medium Density Polyethylene. A form of polyethylene commonly used as a jacketing material for outdoor fiber optic cables. See PE.

Mean

An arithmetic mean is an average calculated by dividing a sum of values by the quantity of those values.

Mean Coil Diameter

Outside diameter of a spring, less one wire diameter.

Mean Diameter

The average of two measurements—generally the maximum and the minimum—of a round product, e.g., bar, rod, wire and tube.

Mechanical Cleaning

Use of an abrasive that cleans wire or rod by removing surface dirt, rust and metal.

Mechanical Descaling

Removal of scale from wire rod by bending the rod around pulleys, shot blasting, sanding with abrasive belts, scouring with metal brushes or a combination of the aforementioned. See Descaling.

Mechanical Properties

The properties of a material that reveal its elastic and inelastic behavior when force is applied, thus indicating its suitability for machine or tool applications. Such properties include modulus of elasticity, yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, hardness and fatigue limit. See Physical Properties.

Mechanical Splicing

Joining two fibers by means of a connector. The fibers are aligned by means of a precision ferrule or tube.

Mechanical Water Absorption

A test of how much water will be absorbed by material in warm water over seven days.

Mechanical Working

Subjecting metal to deformation by rolls, dies, presses or hammers to change its form and thus affect the mechanical properties.

Media, Telecommunications

Wire, cable or conductors used for telecommunications.

Medical Cables

Cables manufactured to serve medical electronics. Areas of use include such equipment as pacemakers, EKGs, EEGs and defibrillators. Special steps must be taken to ensure medical cables survive sterilization processes. Toxicity, flexibility and cable noise are other important considerations.

Medium Carbon Steel

Steel that generally has a carbon content from .25 to .40 percent carbon. A typical use for such wire is in structural support, snap ties and other mild forming applications.

Medium Hard

A relative measure of conductor temper.

Medium Voltage

Voltage range from 2001 volts to 35 kV.

Meeting Point

A meeting point is the hole diameter where the reduction angle and exit angle meet after the die has been ripped to remove the bearing. To finish a die to a required bearing length for a given hole size, the die must first be brought to a meeting point, which is a calculated hole size, based upon the angle of reduction and back relief.

Meg

Numerical prefix denoting 1 million.

Mega

A prefix denoting one million. See Meg.
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