Concrete Blocks

There are three concrete blocks in this washing machine. They are all made with three holes and fit onto protrusions on the drum shell, secured in place by screws with a washer around the head.

There is one small concrete block and two larger concrete slabs. They are all shaped in such a way so as to not get in the way of other parts in the machine, one side concave so as to wrap around the drum shell.

The use of all the three blocks is to act as counterweight to ensure a stable spin. Although a fairly different scenario, this video is a good demonstration of what happens when a washing machine is off balance.

This part of the machine is made by casting the concrete into a mold, then leaving it to harden, and finally opening the mold to remove the newly made concrete block.

Concrete

The property of concrete being dense, cheap and strong makes it the optimal material for a counter weight. Being dense allows the concrete to take up the least amount of space for its mass, taking up less space in the washing machine. Being cheap allows production costs to be lowered and make the washing machine more price competitive. Having tensile strength ensures the longevity of the counterweight to withstand repeated stress from spinning and allows it to resist deformation.

A video on the manufacturing process of concrete can be seen below (Note: this process is performed with a significantly different mold for the concrete found in washing machines).

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