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Analysis of the chair's comfort before and after renovation
Furniture is an object that accompanies us in everyday life. Therefore, it is important to choose appropriate dimensions, tailored to the human body, which will ensure comfort during use. Due to the noticeable gradual wear and tear of furniture or its components, these products are renewed and renovated. Both external and internal damages are reflected not only in the subjective feelings of furniture users, but also in objective studies showing comfort coefficients in numerical values. The main objective of this study was to compare the comfort of use of two AGA chairs before and after renovation. The objective was achieved by examining the comfort of use for the seat and backrest of both chairs using a sensor mat. The comparison was made based on the results of the tests, which were obtained in the form of color maps of stress distributions, SPD and D coefficients. For the first chair, the original layout was used, the same as in the chair before renovation, with the use of new materials. In the second chair, the upholstery layout was changed in relation to the original. Based on the results obtained, it was noted that during the renovation of used chairs, restoring their original structure results in improved utility properties. However, any changes to the structure that differ from the original upholstery layout may result in the failure to restore the initial level of comfort.
The prospect of using retro timber in the furniture industry
The prospect of using retrowood in the furniture industry. To avoid over-consumption of natural resources, the idea of recycling or extending the life of wood-based materials is often considered in recent times.Therefore, it seems appropriate to conduct research aimed at studying the mechanical properties of retrowood and determining the possibility of its application. As part of a scientific study, surveys of old wooden residential buildings (Никитина et al., 2017) of the Russian North with a service life of 60–100 years and mechanical tests of both retrowood and freshly cut wood were carried out. Comparison of indicators of physical and mechanical properties of old wood and new wood material used in the manufacture of furniture with normative indicators of properties was made. Based on the research results, an assessment was made of the possibility of reusing retrowood in the production of furniture and interior elements. Well-preserved vintage wood from old wooden houses being demolished is a potential resource-saving raw material for making furniture, which is confirmed by testing the properties of this material. Based on the research results, the possibility of designing and manufacturing furniture and interior elements from retro wood is considered.
Encouraging training skills in the furniture and woodworking industries through an innovative simulation-based approach
The article presents the results of the project aimed at applying gamification in education. ENCOURAGING SUnRISE ERASMUS+ project builds on the emerging needs of companies in the Wood and Furniture Industry to give employment to young graduated generations (in HE and VET) including: students prepared technically and students motivated to work in this specific sector. To achieve this challenge, the project explored the use of gamification and the Simulation Learning Environment. In particular, ENCOURAGING SUnRISE introduced gamification to the Wood and Furniture Sector training program. The project is a step to trigger modernisation in initial and continuous VET in the sector through gamification and simulation tools. Therefore, the objective of this research was to prepare and investigate the influence of gamification and the Simulation Learning Environment in improving competencies in the furniture and wood sector, as an innovative educational solution. After identifying the needs and challenges, a selection of skills (soft and hard) was made to perform various tasks in the scenario-based simulation game. The quality assessment of the course has been highly rated by students, teachers, and workers As well as the rate of improvement of technical and non-technical knowledge at the end of the course. This creates a chance to respond to needs and opportunities of traditional industries by offering innovative didactic approaches. ENCOURAGING SUnRISE may in a modern and attractive way reinforce the top skills that the most outstanding workers of the sector usually display.
Dimensional analysis of seating furniture from the 1960s and 1970s intended for redesign
Furniture is an object that accompanies us in everyday life. Therefore, it is important to choose appropriate dimensions, tailored to the human body, which will ensure comfort during use. In this study, the dimensions of seating furniture from the 1960s and 1970s were analyzed from an ergonomic perspective. The chosen period of furniture creation is not accidental, as it has been observed that furniture from this era is often renovated or redesigned. They are not only found in homes but also in public spaces such as cafes, schools, and cultural venues. Based on gathered literature, specific specimens were described and served as the basis for further research. Ten armchairs and twelve chairs were measured, and the obtained dimensions were analyzed. The results were compared with guidelines characterizing ergonomic seating. Additionally, percentile models for sitting positions were analyzed, leading to conclusions. After conducting research and analyzing the dimensions of chairs and armchairs from the 1960s and 1970s, it was found that the overall dimensions and important functional measurements for ergonomic seating deviate significantly from the applicable standards.
Study on the Influence of Selected Fabrics and Stitching on the Strength of Upholstery Covers
So far, no coherent and comprehensive method has been elaborated allowing investigation of tensile strength of upholstery seams dedicated to upholstered furniture. Producers of this type of furniture are interested in the assessment of the quality of upholstery material joints, which seems to be particularly important for ensuring the appropriate quality of products. Therefore, the objective of this research was to investigate the influence of the type of material used and the direction of the fabric cut on the strength of upholstery covers. Static tensile testing of selected upholstery fabric samples was performed, and an attempt was made to identify the most optimal fabric–seam joints. It was stated as a conclusion that the fabric tensile strength was the highest for Secret 10 fabric. In addition, the strength of upholstery covers is not influenced by the direction of the fabric die cut. For each fabric, a different configuration is preferable, as shown by results (Power 13: A-B, Secret 10: B-B, Soft 10: A-A). The method, implemented for upholstered furniture, allows for an objective assessment of the strength of upholstery covers and the selection of the most advantageous fabric–seam combination for future furniture designs.