Overview
ISO 9748:2000 specifies the characteristics of ball-ends in corrosion-resistant steel that are swaged on aircraft control wire rope. The standard defines required configuration, dimensions, load ratings and mass, and references the normative figures and tables (Figure 1 and Table 1) that determine part geometry and performance. It ensures consistent design and performance of terminal ball-ends used in aircraft control systems.
Key Topics
- Scope and purpose: Establishes dimensional and load requirements for ball-ends intended for use on aircraft control wire rope.
- Configuration and data: Geometry, masses and minimum breaking loads are given in the normative figure and table. The standard aligns ball-end dimensions with cable nominal diameters and design codes referenced from ISO 2020-1.
- Material: Specifies use of corrosion‑resistant steel; material equivalence and acceptable national standards are listed in Annex A (e.g., references to EN and SAE material specifications).
- Surface treatment: Permitted treatments include passivation (code P) per ISO 8074 or shot peening/grenaillage (code G) as described in the annex. These treatments support corrosion resistance and fatigue performance.
- Designation and marking: Provides a designation format for compliant ball-ends; manufacturer marking practices and packaging identity blocks are specified to assist traceability.
- Related technical compliance: Technical requirements for fittings and tensioning hardware are to be consistent with ISO 10955 and other cited aerospace documents.
Applications
ISO 9748:2000 is directly applicable to aerospace engineers, component manufacturers, procurement specialists and maintenance organizations involved with aircraft flight control systems. Practical uses include:
- Standardising terminal fittings for control cables across airframes and suppliers
- Verifying that swaged ball-ends meet required dimensions, mass and breaking loads before installation
- Selecting appropriate material grades and surface treatments to meet corrosion resistance and service life expectations
- Supporting procurement and acceptance testing through referenced normative tables and identification markings
Benefits include improved interchangeability, predictable load performance, enhanced corrosion protection and clearer traceability.
Related Standards
ISO 9748:2000 references and aligns with several standards that provide related requirements:
- ISO 2020-1 - dimensions and loads for preformed aircraft control cables
- ISO 8074 - passivation treatment for austenitic stainless steel elements
- ISO 10955 - technical specifications for cable ends and turnbuckles used in aircraft control systems
- Annex A of ISO 9748 provides correspondence to national material and treatment standards (EN, SAE, etc.) to help manufacturers meet regional requirements.
For procurement, design reviews or maintenance programs, ISO 9748:2000 is a concise normative reference ensuring ball-ends for aircraft control wire ropes meet consistent dimensional, material and load criteria.