Ok...this is your chance......to

[brit]

Just found this in a google search

that is quite an interesting project, one thing that could look quite cool is if you extended the back of the unit so you could fit a large-ish LCD touchscreen (or even have one riase from the back on a pair of actuators, change the machine running it for one of these compact via eden boards

then just change the windows shell to something else, have the pc boot into a kiosk type thing giving you the option to launch the wash controls/mp3 player so you have music in the wash room

and hey presto an all in one computer controlled washing machine and i suppose if you want to be really really flash im sure that as a programmer you could knock up a version of the control to run on a pocket pc over wifi

I do like the idea of keeping water in the outer cabinet as balast, efficent use of waste water

 

[westytoploader]

Hi Robert, great pictures of the Super Unimatic...can't wait to see more on what you've done to it! Is the "Knock Counter" feature you mentioned the off-balance mechanism that would shut the machine off if the tub knocked a certain number of times?

 

[gmmcnair]

My Dream Machine

Since our leader isn't mass producing Super Unimatics (wish you would), I would have the lint filtering capabilities of the GE filter flo, the agitator from the old Norge/Wards machines, the huge straight vane model with the mega oscillations, along with a 1000+ rpm spin speed, extra rinse options, and a timer that advanced automatically from Pre-Wash/Soak into the wash cycle (add timed detergent/bleach/fabric softener dispensers to that list too).

Of course, I would also want a window in the lid to see all the splashy splashy action! :-D

Is this too much to ask???

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hey Brit, welcome to aw.org. Someday I might do a touch screen thingy, but for now I like the robustness of an actual pc terminal.

You got it Austin, the unbalance sensor has to be knocked into by the transmission four times before it goes into my unbalance load routine. Sometimes in a Unimatic during the start of spin, part of the wash load reaches the wall of the wash tub before the rest of the load causing the tub to wobble out of balance two or three times before the entire wash is pressed against the side of the tub. Have the computer count "knocks" prevent any unbalance load "false alarms". If the computer counts four knocks on the sensor, the unbalance routine then stops the motor and engages the spin brake and the washer tub sits still for ten seconds, this allows the wash load to drop down to the bottom of the wash tub where it is less likely to swing the tub, then it tries to spin again. If it knocks into the unbalance sensor four more times than the computer stops everything and announces an unbalance load. This rarely happens, but it does on occasion.

 

[brit]

it may be worth looking at the in car audio community as i know for a fact that you can get touchscreens for PC use that are about 7inch in size that connect to a PC for in car computers if the idea of a touch screen appeals

 

[chestermikeuk]

WonderWasher!!

Hi Chris
Mine would be a revamped 1961 Hoover Keymatic!!
Sloping Front, 8kg load, 2,000rpm, Stainless Drum with Stainless Pulsator, H & C fill, Susz Save Water Tank under the drum, With a Keyplate moulding machine to Design & Print your own keycards...

Robert
Your`re just such a Whizz with those machines, BUT...How could you be such a tease and tell us you cannibalised a lovley ASKo, just to get your parts!!!! shame...LOL

Hi Brit
Welcome to the club, lots to do and see, what are your favourite Brit machines??? (please dont say Miele!!!)

Mike

 

[unimac104]

super unimatic

robert,
what more can be said other than you are true genius at what you do. hope i get get meet and shake your hand one day.

bob

 

[mistereric]

Hey Rob!

What if your washing machine gets a virus? Could you imagine the horror? Dingy whites, suds gone awry... and what if it gets to the fill mechanism? YEE!

I'm just kiddin around. Do you have plans to bury the control box inside the machine? It'd be neat to have just the parallel port on the back of the machine.

I think you should submit your work to makezine.com, they'd love it.

 

[jasonl]

Robert, does the water heater have a thermostat, or do you just give it a specified on time until you think it's gotten hot enough?

 

[Unimatic1140]

Do you have plans to bury the control box inside the machine?
Hi Eric, no worries about viruses the in-line heater will keep all the computer germs at bay -- as for placing the control box inside the machine I might do that some day but for now I like having easy access to the 2 relay boards. I also like the idea of the keyboard and mouse user interface over a touch-screen; it makes for much more robust control. Granted it would never be able to be marketed that way, but that’s not my goal. My goal is to have a totally cool, fun, flexible, one of a kind washer that I can sculpt and use over the years.

Robert, does the water heater have a thermostat, or do you just give it a specified on time until you think it's gotten hot enough?
Hi Jason, the in-line water heater is from a 30” Dacor dishwasher, it was designed to heat only a few gallons of water at a time and it has its own internal 165 degree thermostat. Since my machine has 14 gallons of water recirculating through the system there is very little chance that the water temperature is going to reach 165F in a 20 minute heat period. What happens is the incoming hot water is at 140F, it cools down to 120F as it enters the cool wash tub and clothes, the heater will then bring it back up to nearly 130F but I've never seen it go higher than 130F. The point of the heater is not to heat the water, but to keep the water very hot throughout the 20 minute wash/soak cycle. I've experimented by keeping the heater turned off and in 20 minutes the hot water temperature drops all the way from 120F to 101F, by simply keeping the water hot, it seems to make all the difference in the world for getting whites really white without using bleach. Granted I like the idea of starting with cold water and heating it up during the wash cycle, but that would take forever and one my objectives for this machine, unlike many modern washers, is not to waste one second of time on nonsense cycles and functions.

 

[spiralactivator]

Fantasy top-loader

Lighted bi-level control panel (think Whirlpool in the '60s) with atom-age motif and chromed knobs

Kelvinator-style windowed lid

Large-capacity, perforated stainless wash tub

Heavy-duty spiral agitator in black or turquoise--not white!--with long, slow stroke

Recirculating lint filter to clean up all the pet hair

Timed bleach and softener dispensers (on TOL model)

Available in festive avocado, regal coppertone, or invirgorating turquoise!

 

[compwhiz128]

This design is a design I daydream about

High Torque/horsepower/speed reversible motor that goes up to 10,000 RPM.

See through everywhere!

Titanium innertub.

Tachometer.

Despensers for everything.

6 in' diameter drainage hole for instant drain!

Electric/gas heater.

Very powerful recirculating pump with awesome self-cleaning filter!

Water level sensor.

Fabric color sensor.

Heat sensor.

Rather than an agitator. This machine contains many coloumns of flexible plastic which are moved by electromagnets. By these moving this makes a vibrating turbulance in the water. Depending if it is set to be gentle or vigorus.

Speed control sensor to change based on how much water turbulance response the machine is getting from the amount of clothes.

Only two simple buttons Start/Stop.

"Toy" touch screen to play around with the machine

Speed limiter to prevent over speeding.

Short circut brakeing to avoid having to place a brake in.

And more stuff!