What machine did Leonardo da Vinci design to weave rope or cord more efficiently?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a rope-making machine to help twist fibers into rope or cord more efficiently.

Rope-making requires several strands to be twisted together while tension is maintained. Leonardo’s engineering notebooks include mechanisms for coordinating rotation and guiding material, reflecting his interest in automating repetitive workshop labor. Such a machine could make production more regular than relying entirely on hand twisting.

The design should not be mistaken for a spinning wheel. A spinning wheel makes yarn by twisting fibers into a single thread, while rope-making combines already formed strands into a stronger cord or rope. Leonardo studied both textile and mechanical processes, but the final products and mechanisms were different.

As with many of Leonardo’s inventions, surviving drawings do not prove that every design was built. His sketches nevertheless preserve a detailed record of how he analyzed motion, friction, tension, and the transmission of power in practical manufacturing.