Research into Corner L Separable Assemblies in Storage Furniture

Abstract

This research is based on the testing of the impact of the board (particleboard and medium density fiberboard (MDF)) and hardware type used to connect the sides and the bottom or top of the storage furniture on the joint strength. The hardwares of the following trade mark were used: the confirmat screw, Minifix, Maxifix, Stablofix, RV and Solo 32. Such hardwares make it possible to disassemble the furniture as well as to assemble it (when moving the furniture) without reducing joint strength when reassembling it due to wear and tear on the material (with the exception of the confirmant screw). Research results showed that assemblies with the Maxifix hardware installed in the MDF base exhibited the highest values of bending moment (the average bending moment of 85.88 Nm). On the other hand, assemblies with the Minifix hardware installed in the particleboard exhibited the lowest values of bending moment (over three times lower than the Maxifix) (the average bending moment of 24.50 Nm). Assemblies with the confirmat screw exhibited satisfactory results, although, aesthetic requirements seem to be the main problem here (the average bending moment of 40.38 Nm for the particleboard and of 64.24 Nm for the MDF).