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Spoke thickness and width

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Old 07-23-24 | 01:42 PM
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Spoke thickness and width

I am trying to clarify spoke thickness and width
Shimano RS700-TL wheels with bladed spokes as an example
Spoke spec according to maker
FR 2.0-1.5-2.0 measured 2.0-1.1-2.0 (2.1 width)
REAR 2.0-1.8-2.0 measured 2.0-1.4-2.0 (2.3 width)
no width specified by maker.
I am measuring with dial calibers.
The two end numbers are the dia next to the thread and the opposite straight section near the hub (straight pull).
The middle number is the thickness, but I am measuring less than the spec in both cases.
No width is given.
I assume that these spokes start at 2.0 mm and are extruded to the desired thickness which also would determine the width. In other words, thickness and width are related for a certain gauge.
The Parktool chart shows 2 or 3 numbers
Steel blade 1.0x3.2 or other bladed spoke 1.0x2.5-2.7
Is my understanding correct or am I missing something?


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Old 07-23-24 | 02:22 PM
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For bladed spokes, I interpret the middle value to represent the width of the blade region (width being defined as the length of the flat profile, not the thickness or height). In the examples where you list 2/1.8/2, the 1.8 refers to the diameter of the butted section of butted round spokes. For bladed spokes the middle number should be larger than the two end values.

FR 2.0-1.5-2.0 measured 2.0-1.1-2.0 (2.1 width)
REAR 2.0-1.8-2.0 measured 2.0-1.4-2.0 (2.3 width)

I think those are the round equivalents and then they bladed the middle section.

Last edited by tFUnK; 07-23-24 at 02:29 PM.
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Old 07-23-24 | 02:35 PM
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the "bladed" section would be pinch rolled, not extruded.
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Old 07-23-24 | 03:08 PM
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Normally, simply rolling the shape from flat to round wouldn't change the cross section.

So, it would be easy to use that to calculate* either thickness or width from the other.

EXAMPLE, if starting with a 2mm spoke, you'd have a cross section of 3.14mm (1x1xpi), or 3.14x1 or 2.5x1.25 when flattened. (or something comparable if more oval than flat)

I prefaced this by saying "normally" because it's possible to combine swaging and flattening to produce blades or ovals with smaller x-sections. (though offhand, I don't know of any that do)

*of course, if you have the spoke measuring is preferable.

Last edited by FBinNY; 07-23-24 at 05:11 PM.
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Old 07-23-24 | 03:16 PM
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For reference, here are a couple of illustrations for DT Swiss spoke products, showing the measurements and profile along the length of the spokes:

DT Aero Comp -- straight pull, 2.0 / 1.25 / 2.3 x ___ mm, #SACS20___N01000253
https://www.dtswiss.com/en/component...s/dt-aero-comp

DT AeroLite -- straight pull, 2.0 / 1.5 / 2.0 0.9 / 2.4, #SATS20___N01000164
https://www.dtswiss.com/en/component...es/dt-aerolite

DT Competition -- straight pull, 2.0 / 1.8 / 2.0 - / -, #SCOS20___N0100
https://www.dtswiss.com/en/component...dt-competition

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Old 07-24-24 | 12:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Clyde1820
For reference, here are a couple of illustrations for DT Swiss spoke products, showing the measurements and profile along the length of the spokes:

DT Aero Comp -- straight pull, 2.0 / 1.25 / 2.3 x ___ mm, #SACS20___N01000253
https://www.dtswiss.com/en/component...s/dt-aero-comp

DT AeroLite -- straight pull, 2.0 / 1.5 / 2.0 0.9 / 2.4, #SATS20___N01000164
https://www.dtswiss.com/en/component...es/dt-aerolite

DT Competition -- straight pull, 2.0 / 1.8 / 2.0 - / -, #SCOS20___N0100
https://www.dtswiss.com/en/component...dt-competition
Thanks for the info. It was informative
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Old 07-24-24 | 10:21 AM
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From: NW Peloponnese, Greece
Originally Posted by tFUnK
For bladed spokes, I interpret the middle value to represent the width of the blade region (width being defined as the length of the flat profile, not the thickness or height). In the examples where you list 2/1.8/2, the 1.8 refers to the diameter of the butted section of butted round spokes. For bladed spokes the middle number should be larger than the two end values.

FR 2.0-1.5-2.0 measured 2.0-1.1-2.0 (2.1 width)
REAR 2.0-1.8-2.0 measured 2.0-1.4-2.0 (2.3 width)

I think those are the round equivalents and then they bladed the middle section.
The DT SWISS spec for the Aero comp str. pull T-head is:
2.0/1.25/ 2.3 mm wide
In this case the middle value is the thickness of the blade and not the width.
In all spokes that I've measured the middle value seems to match the thickness of the bladed section. The width is not given.
In the Parktool chart that I mentioned above the 1st number seems to be the thickness and the 2nd the width which sometimes is given as a range.
Thanks for reponding
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Old 07-24-24 | 01:38 PM
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From: NW Peloponnese, Greece
Originally Posted by FBinNY
Normally, simply rolling the shape from flat to round wouldn't change the cross section.

So, it would be easy to use that to calculate* either thickness or width from the other.

EXAMPLE, if starting with a 2mm spoke, you'd have a cross section of 3.14mm (1x1xpi), or 3.14x1 or 2.5x1.25 when flattened. (or something comparable if more oval than flat)

I prefaced this by saying "normally" because it's possible to combine swaging and flattening to produce blades or ovals with smaller x-sections. (though offhand, I don't know of any that do)

*of course, if you have the spoke measuring is preferable.
I have the various spokes, but I didn't expect to find such differences. I'll use these spoke on my fixture to calibrate the Parktool tension meter so the exact dimensions don;t matter so much.
Thanks for responding
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