Loops of stranded steel cable act as the spring element.

Load deflects the loops elastically.

Energy is absorbed by strands rubbing against one another inside the rope.

The damping is mechanical friction rather than a material property.

Nothing depends on an elastomer's behaviour.

That is what gives the type its characteristics.

It does not perish, harden, creep or degrade in ultraviolet light.

Performance is essentially unchanged over decades.

It works across an extremely wide temperature range.

Oils, solvents, ozone and chemicals do not attack it.

Rubber mounts in those conditions need periodic replacement.

Aerospace, defence, marine and rail applications use them for exactly that.

Shock and large deflections rather than steady low-level vibration.

The loops absorb impact and return.

Transport cases and shipboard equipment are typical uses.

So are vehicle-mounted systems.

Severe vibration environments suit them well.

For gentle steady isolation an elastomeric mount is frequently sufficient and cheaper.

Yes - compression, shear and roll simultaneously.

Many elastomeric mounts are designed principally for one axis.

Where input is multi-axis and unpredictable, that matters.

Mount orientation still affects the stiffness in each direction.

Manufacturers publish figures per axis.

Selecting orientation deliberately rather than by convenience improves the result.

Getting the stiffness wrong so the mount resonates.

A natural frequency coinciding with the disturbing frequency amplifies vibration.

That is worse than fitting nothing at all.

Selection is by load per mount and by the frequency being isolated.

Both figures are needed rather than one.

Manufacturers publish selection data and it is worth using rather than estimating.

Cost and size compared with elastomeric mounts of similar capacity.

They are more expensive per mount.

They are also bulkier for the same load.

That makes them a considered choice rather than a default.

Where the environment or shock duty requires them, no elastomer substitutes.

Whole-life cost frequently favours them where rubber would need periodic replacement.

Very little, which is much of their appeal.

There is no material to perish or replace.

Visual inspection for broken strands is the main check.

Corrosion matters in marine environments despite the steel.

Stainless versions are specified for those conditions.

Mounting fixings should be checked as they would on any vibrating assembly.