Thread Number: 74359
/ Tag: Modern Automatic Washers
Guys, I need some help with a new design |
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Post# 981471 , Reply# 1   2/6/2018 at 05:26 (2,242 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))   |   | |
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Warm option yes. I might only use it in winter, but I'd want it there.
Agitation, you'd know best. Do like spiralator from what I recall of the Easy. But then, in 1953 I may not have been 'all-that' astute an observer. I was only 7yo.
Super heavy: This is where digital controls would actually DO something besides run up repair bills. Selectable soak times. Don't like the 'forever' idea; people 'forget'. Long soaks (1-4hrs) would be awkward to implement with a cam timer, but not impossible. Small, simple digital board pauses timer, enables switch-select variable times, and cycle always completes without intervention. Or leave it fixed at 1hr, even so that's quite a chore for a cam-only timer.
Lotta torque, tossing 9kg around. Lotta repetitive stress where the mechanism meets the case. In my former life as failure analysis engineer, I'd be concerned. But not a design engineer, can't suggest what to do about it. You'll know. |
Post# 981508 , Reply# 2   2/6/2018 at 07:50 (2,242 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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agitation speed to adapt to water levels....slower at lower levels, more aggressive during high fills...
if you are incorporating a timed bleach dispenser....its advisable to have it dispense for all cycles.....will save you a bunch of headaches later... a longer extended final spin, at full speed, would be helpful..... |
Post# 981533 , Reply# 3   2/6/2018 at 08:43 (2,242 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)   |   | |
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Post# 981591 , Reply# 4   2/6/2018 at 10:26 (2,242 days old) by chetlaham (United States)   |   | |
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Neat- let US know when it comes out. I want it!
"1) Include warm rinse option?" I think this is a nice touch as most washers today do not offer a warm rinse- in fact I can't think of any. Not saying they don't exist, but I have not seen one as of late. A warm rinse is great for folks up north where during the winder the water might reach 33*F (or somewhere there) right out of the tap. "2) The washer will have 4 different agitation profiles based on the cycle selected." Make sure you include a hand-wash cycle and its accompanying agitation. Sears always had that on their portables- that and the fact my mother would use it all the time for her delicate lingerie. You would be surprised at how many people need a hand-wash cycle. "3) Is the super heavy duty automatic cycle ok or i should change it to a "soak" (the washer only fills, agitates and starts the soak with intermitent agitations and continues forever until the user selects other cycle)" To me that would be more of a Soak. If you do drain and spin at the end, simply call it "auto soak" I am leaning more toward having it automatically drain and then spin after the soak period. "Is there anything else I'm forgetting?" IMO the auto bleach may not be worth it if cost is only a factor, but if not go for it. I think it will be a good selling point to get people to buy it. And yes- have it dispense for all cycles except rinse and spin and spin only. A 3rd water solenoid may be the best and most fail safe option instead of a wax motor but take that with a grain of salt as I am not the one designing the system. BTW- I want to say that you are my hero. I have been looking for such a portable for close to two decades now. The back fill and recirculating pump are two huge bonuses for me. Also- a brake band is not enough? |
Post# 981639 , Reply# 5   2/6/2018 at 13:18 (2,242 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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Post# 981649 , Reply# 6   2/6/2018 at 14:53 (2,242 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))   |   | |
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I'd make it a seperate soak cycle, simple as you then can use it before any cycle. The more agitation speeds the better IMO. Warm rinse will probably increase your sales quite decently. A second rinse option would be great, but don't know how to incorporate that with a 3-knob design. |
Post# 981670 , Reply# 9   2/6/2018 at 17:30 (2,242 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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henene4: Temperatures would be cold, cool, warm, medium, hot and extra hot, corresponding 20C, 30C, 40C, 50C, 60C and tap hot (tempered as needed for safety). A tap cold option would addable.50C would meet or exceed the typical tap-hot temperature in the majority of U.S. households, which makes 60C and tap-hot redundant. Water heaters typically are set at 120°F (49°C) at manufacture and the majority of homeowners are unlikely to change them. |
Post# 981673 , Reply# 10   2/6/2018 at 17:43 (2,242 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))   |   | |
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It would make it redundant for most, true, but not for those with really hot water setups, which, AFAIK, is most on AW.org and most who care about super clean washing. |
Post# 981700 , Reply# 12   2/7/2018 at 05:23 (2,241 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)   |   | |
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I forgot... dispenser for powder and liquid detergent (removable tray), liquid bleach, liquid fabric softener. |
Post# 981707 , Reply# 13   2/7/2018 at 07:04 (2,241 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Very interesting project, I would be concerned about an ALL plastic machine, this has never been done in a full sized machine [ 24"-27" wide X 36" high washer ] I don't know what size you are actually trying to build.
All plastic is just too heavy and too great a fire hazard, steel has far greater strength per pound than plastic and as size gets larger plastic gets very heavy. A fire with a full sized plastic appliance could easily destroy an entire home and kill the entire family, I suppose that you could build in a fire extinguisher system that could release inside the cabinet and control area to self extinguish a fire.
The other main concern is using a spiral ramp agitator just will not turn over a load as large as you like without the tub holding over 20 gallons of water, and a washer that uses this much water with a 66C wash temperature and a warm rinse option will use far too much hot water to ever sell in large numbers. [ how large is this machine actually going to be ?, water capacity etc ]
Overall this sounds like a fun project, keep us informed as it progresses.
John L. |
Post# 981718 , Reply# 14   2/7/2018 at 09:51 (2,241 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)   |   | |
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Just my opinion, but ONE HOUR of agitation sounds really excessive, especially w/o a water change. I remember seeing clothes left agitating in a wringer washer for over an hour and there was a noticeable amount of lint in the water! This is one cycle I would never use.
Now the HD cycle with 1 hour of intermittent agitate/soak/agitate I would use.
For rinsing I assume it will only do 1 deep rinse (unlike SCAW2GEN) and the 4 "pee spray" rinse during spin? This post was last edited 02/07/2018 at 10:24 |
Post# 981722 , Reply# 15   2/7/2018 at 10:30 (2,241 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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sometimes isn't it easier to keep it simple....for ease of use, and no nonsense to understand...
basically a one cycle, one dial wonder if you will.....Soak>>Prewash>>Wash>>Spin>>Rinse>>Spin>>>>ExRinse option....cycle can be started anywhere along the cycle dial... options.... Wash/Spin speeds...N/F N/S S/F S/S Water Temps...H/C H/W W/W W/C C/C Variable water levels..... Normal or ECO modes these have always been some of the most basic of operations, yet the variations are endless for any fabric or load.... |
Post# 981834 , Reply# 16   2/7/2018 at 21:06 (2,241 days old) by speedqueen (Metro-Detroit)   |   | |
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I want to commend your designs! I am ashamed to admit that I only looked at the products offered by The Laundry Alternative today. They are amazing for what they do with so little. The old lint filter design on the compact automatic is so simple, but so amazingly designed. The self cleaning design seems good too. I am simply blown away! I can say with confidence that your new full size automatic will be good.
Any chance you lot over at the design team have any plans for a Combo washer-dryer that will best the old Equator units? |
Post# 981835 , Reply# 17   2/7/2018 at 21:31 (2,241 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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You should diffidently using retractable wheels so the washer can sit on all four feet when you are trying to spin an over 20 pound load at 850 RPMs, just locking two wheels is not likley to work well enough, you could even use a motorized retractable wheel assembly that work at the flick of a switch.
John L. |