Extending the service life of washing machines through refurbishment and reuse reduces the amount of waste electrical equipment but requires a reliable assessment of the condition of used assemblies. This thesis presents the design and manufacture of a test rig for evaluating the tightness and mechanical response of a washing machine tub assembly and thereby assessing its suitability for refurbishment and reuse. The test rig combines mechanical, pneumatic, drive, control and measurement subsystems with a graphical user interface. It can generate air pressure inside the tub and rotate the washing machine drum. Its operation was evaluated using the pressure decay method and acceleration signal acquisition at different initial pressures, rotational frequencies and contact forces. The system detected simulated leaks and enabled time and frequency domain analysis of the mechanical response of the washing machine tub assembly. The results confirm the test rig’s functionality. However, because only one test sample was used, general criteria for assessing sealing performance and bearing condition could not be established.
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