To help you understand the uniqueness of our industry, we've created a list of key terms. From alloy to recipe, we try to cover the range of terms that gives you a better insight into what we do.

• Alloy a mixture of two or more elements in solid solution in which the major component is a metal. Most pure metals are either too soft, brittle, or chemically reactive for practical use. Combining different ratios of metals produces desirable characteristics.
• Anneal the process in which heat is applied to the wire at a certain temperature and a certain speed to make the wire softer. The metal is altered, causing changes in properties such as strength and hardness.
• Cast describes rolled or drawn wire's natural tendency to form a circle. The diameter of the circle is the cast measurement.
• Coating we offer coatings for a variety of applications to increase lubricity, chemical resistance, and to provide electrical insulation for use in devices.
• Die a stainless steel casing in which a natural or synthetic diamond or other hard material (carbide) is enclosed. The wire is fed through a hole in the middle of the diamond or carbide and is elongated as it is pulled out the other side. The more dies the wire is pulled through, the more elongated and smaller the wire becomes.
• Die mark a surface defect on the wire which is caused by some part of the diamond or carbide being worn or damaged. Visual education and changing the die are effective ways of reducing die marks.
• Eddy current an inspection method used to check for defects on the wire. Eddy currents are created through a process called electromagnetic induction.
• Helix the measurement from the flat surface on which the wire is resting, and the raised tip of the wire.
• Recipe or formula the term we use to describe our process of manufacturing a product. The recipe represents the step-by-step process of producing a product from raw material until it meets customer specifications, similar to a recipe for cooking or baking.