Tailorable furniture with single curved surfaces: A study of the unique artifact within the condition of mass production.

摘要

Current manufacturing industry is undergoing a major paradigm shift that is taking from traditional manufacturing for standard products into a world of products for variety. In this research, shape memory polymer (SMP) implemented by composite material technology has been studied as an innovative way to enable the provision of product differentiation within the condition of mass production in ready to assembly furniture. Considering fiber-reinforced SMP composite material as the next generation of tailorable product in furniture design to provide new form of customization, this study explores the potential of transformable standard SMP sandwich composite modules for the furniture with single curved surfaces. Using fiber reinforced shape memory polymer composite for the standard module of transformable furniture and applying CAD/CAE technology in design and analysis, the ready-to-assembly furniture is capable of providing the greater customizability for the user to create the one-off artifact without extra cost. This research addresses technical aspects of new form of variable furniture in smart materials and investigates the process for the design and manufacture of furniture with single curved surfaces to create a non-serial furniture product within the condition of mass production.