- Cable or hoist winches are machine elements that are classified as transmission or conversion elements. In a cable winch, a supporting cable is wound on a cable drum by means of a gear transmission. This allows loads secured to the supporting cable to be moved. The SMT-TM- 09 experimental unit is used to study the hoisting velocity and force transmission of a cable winch. It also demonstrates the function of a return stop. By considering equilibrium states, it is possible to determine force transmission and efficiency. The two cable drums are mounted on ball bearings. The forces are generated by weights and can be varied quickly and easily.