Poor chickens. They have their own wire mesh to protect them from so many predators. And for what purpose? So we can make them our prey.
What an interesting shape that hexagon is. In chemistry, molecules with fused carbocycles are compared to wire mesh. In photonics, the wire mesh effect is the dominant pattern of low transmission paths between multi-fibre bundles in optical fibres used to couple multipliers to CCD sensors. It is used for safety protection in machine tool designs. It has been found to block or attenuate Wi-FI, cellular, and other radio frequency transmissions. There is even a brain tumour with a fine wire-mesh capillary pattern.
It came about in 1844 with a wire mesh fabricating machine using the principles of fabric weaving machines. It was Charles Barnard who did this.
From Redbrand: "When our poultry netting is woven, each twist in the wire is paired with a reverse twist. As a result, the finished product will unroll flat, making the installation process easier. The mesh is very pliable, conforming to all types of terrain. Each roll is galvanized with a coat of rust resisting zinc. This will increase the lifespan of your fence and decrease the need for future maintenance."
That takes us to the simpler visual world of chain-link. It was the same Charles Barnard who produced the first chain link fencing by machine. The manufacturing, though, is also complicated. In an improved version of the weaving machine, it winds two wires around the blade at once to create a double helix. One of the spirals is woven through the last spiral that is already part of the fence.
That is a bit hard to visualize, isn't it? But it isn't hard to visualize the eternity of the longest chain link fence:
The dingo-proof wire fence enclosing the main sheep areas of Australia is 1.8m 6ft high, plus 30cm 1ft underground and stretches for 5531km 3437miles. The Queensland state government discontinued full maintenance in 1982.
Here's our most attractive picket fence in Grimsby - makes one think of times long gone. In fact, a North American Colonial era innovation.
