I can think of one possible way.  Use the spline room.  Create an object consisting of two grouped circles.  Create a few equidistant sections.  Make sure you have it set to point to point.   Set the extrusion method to pipeline and then begin rotating the grouped circles in each section an equal amount, until you have the braided look you want.  Then create a few more sections and use them with the pipeline extrusion to shape the wire to your liking.  This method will require a lot of tweaking but offhand, it's the only way I can think of to do it.  It's amazing how the simple looking things can be the biggest headache to do. :)  Good luck.

Hi Rich, looks like that can be done in the vertex room too.  I'll give it a try-rotating one segment group at a time.  --and yes what seems to be the simplist thing can be a nasty to do.  If I'm sucessful, I'll post my masterpiece, then figure out what I can use it in.  Thanks Jan

A shame that the thumbnails are still not available

http://forums.polyloop.net/carrara-tutorials/10150-c5-carrara-rope.html

Brian

Hi Brian, saw the tut, did almost the same thing except I grabbed the cylinder, entered the 16 segments, set the diameter to .5 and length to 5, then rotated 17, 16, 15 etc segments respectively to get the above shape.  I didn't make a uv map---YET just coated it with copper texture.  did play around with it by adding smaller stubs of cylinders to the end for bare copper and changed the original piece (above) to white for the poly covering.  Managing to make bends now.  It will take a few tries to get it somewhat right.  However, now  I know that one can make twisted wire or rope in Carrara, just have to perfect the method.  Jan