Light Weight Components for Structural Parts : A design-optimization study of a ROL-Ergo desktop stand

Abstract: ROL Ergo is a company that belongs to the ROL Group concern. They develop and manufacture products for the office furniture market and their main focus is on electrically height adjustable desk stands. They also develop products for personal use, often in collaboration with other companies.The products that ROL Ergo develop are all quite robust and stable, which are qualities often associated with weight. As the E-commerce is increasing in popularity, ROL-Ergo will have to adapt and further improve their products to keep up with it. This means that their product needs to decrease in weight, but without compromising their other qualities. To accomplish this, well thought-out weight reductions must be made on their components.The desktop stand that this report covers consists of many different components. However, the main components consist of the foot, leg, frame, and strut. There is also a motor housing, containing the electric engine used adjust the table, that connects the leg with the frame and strut. The foot, frame and strut are some of the heaviest and least complex components of the stand, and therefore suitable to perform weight reduction on.This report covers the work that was done to analyze the current components, as well as the design and development process to generate a new weight-improved design. To begin with, the analyzing of the current components consisted of getting an understanding of their purpose and what stresses they are subject to. Simulations were done to determine this, and the results from these were the basis as well as point of comparison for the new concepts.As the project finished, new weight improved concepts for the foot, strut and frame with new designs had been developed. Combined with the current remaining parts of the desk frame, it led to a significant total weight reduction. All the new components were compared to the already existing ones through simulations.