Wire rope thimbles are used in wire rope assemblies to keep an eye from being crushed.
When a wire rope assembly is terminated with an eye or loop at the end, a cable thimble is inserted to form the eye of the loop before the rope is secured. Steel thimbles (or stainless steel thimbles in high corrosive environments), offer added protection from wear and tear of direct contact and deformation of the eye, extending the service life of the Wire Rope or Wire Rope Sling.
It's important to note that break strength is typically not denoted on steel rope thimbles as the pressure on the thimble eye can vary depending on tension and direction the pressure comes from.