German student uses igus products to design functional furniture

October 25, 2019 - An interior design student in Germany used products from igus to develop a practical solution for a constricted living space.

Valeria Vysozki, a student at the University of Trier, used igus drylin linear guides and iglide plain bearings to design a sofa that converts into a workstation with an integrated table. The lubrication- and maintenance-free characteristics of the igus components ensure smooth movement in the application. Germany-based igus runs its North American operations out of Providence, R.I.

Vysozki’s furniture piece, called Frida, has a soft-padded design on the upholstered sofa with two backrests and an armrest. A plate integrated in the armrest can be converted into a writing desk. She used igus products for bearing and adjustment on the table.

Vysozki turned to igus to help design a stable and quiet rail system. The rail needed to support a maple board, but also had to be quiet and operate smoothly. She installed a drylin linear guide for lateral movement of the armrest and an iglide plain bearing was attached under the board.

The drylin guide carriage slides on the rail thanks to the high-performance plastic iglide J200 bearing. Designed specifically for aluminium shafts and low to medium loads, it is impervious to dirt and dust, like all igus tribopolymers. The result is reliable and long service life in the moving application.

The couch’s table can not only be pulled out, but also turned. The exposed interior of the armrest serves as storage space. In addition, electronic devices can be charged thanks to the built-in connector strip.

For the bearing of the lateral pivoting movement, the student relied on the thrust washer made of iglide G. The igus material combines a cost-effective price with many attractive technical specifications: a long service life across the entire load spectrum on a wide variety of rotating or pivoting shafts, even in very different ambient conditions, such as those exposed to dirt, dust or impacts. The combination of igus linear system and iglide materials ensures that Frida is not only comfortable, but also a practical and durable piece of furniture.

Convertible furniture is particularly valuable in the small living spaces that accommodate many young students. The sofa/workplace combination with a built-in connector strip is a space-saving functional furniture piece that will be appreciated in many cramped living quarters.

Innovative projects such as the creation of Frida are supported by igus as part of the "young engineers support" (yes) program. With the initiative, igus aspires to support students in the development and execution of their technical projects. 

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