In article ,
"BigWallop" writes:
Would you believe that, between a 1000 rpm spin and a 1100 rpm spin, the
difference in the amount of water taken out of the clothes is a measly
tablespoon full. The full spin speed, on any machine, only last for a few
seconds, so the amount of pressure put on the clothes to extract the water
does not last long enough to make any significant difference in the amount
extracted.

The force on the water is proportional to the square of the rpm,
so a small speed increase can make a disproportionately large
effect on the amount of water removed, but has an equally large
increase in the strain placed on the drum. My Hotpoint spins at
1400 rpm for what seems like a couple of minutes. After that
you can remove a towel and whilst it will feel damp like it was
used just recently, it is dry enough to use to dry your hands on.

If the full spin speed were to last anything up to a minute, which would be
the ideal spin time, either the drum bearings would heat and burn out after
only 12 spins, or the motor bearing would only last for a maximum running
time under load at top speed of only 48 hours.

This Hotpoint has been spinning at 1400 rpm regularly, is something
like 15 years old, and is still on its first drum bearing.

Ain't it amazing what troubles friction, weight and centrifugal forces
cause.

--
Andrew Gabriel