To each die its own application: the new Nano Diamond Coated dies from FWWD

When choosing the optimal die for bunching, stranding, or compacting application in the cable industry, stranded cable manufacturers have today a wide selection of options at their disposal.

Many factors can influence the choice for a given application from a performance, quality, and total cost of ownership standpoint. In this in-depth article, Fort Wayne Wire Die explains the tradeoffs associated with the different die options and all the benefits and limitations of their innovative Nano Diamond Coated Dies.

What are Nano DCD dies?
NDCD dies are tungsten carbide dies coated with a 30 micron thick layer of nanocrystalline diamond particles. Please note that these nanocrystalline particles cover the entire interior surface of the die including the entry area (which is especially important for stranding dies). Compared to other types of dies such as tungsten carbide or PCD, the NDCD dies also have a much smoother surface polish, which helps minimize die pull and improve the efficiency of the stranding machine. Because of the low friction, emission of aluminum fines and dust is also notably lower, improving the operators’ safety and reducing the risks of explosions.

Longer die life
NDCDs are incredibly resistant to wear – there is almost no change in hole size or surface degradation prior to failure. Compared to tungsten carbide dies, die life is also about 10X (or more) while the cost is only 3-5X more, and they are frequently known to produce as much as 600 miles (1,000 Km) of cable before failure. So, all things considered, there is often a strong value proposition in using NDCD dies over tungsten carbide dies.

Other die options
In the following table you can see a comparison of the relative characteristics of the four main categories of stranding and compacting dies available at FWWD.


Nano DCD dies join the other solutions already in the Fort Wayne Wire Die line up for cable stranding, bunching, compacting, and compression applications, each with its own distinct advantages and disadvantages. There is no one die that is optimum for all stranding and compacting applications, but Nano DCD dies have proven to be a legitimate and valuable option for cable manufacturing.

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