Comparison of tensile strength of furniture dovetail fasteners produced with 3D printers and those produced with injection molding method

Joints are the most critical elements of furniture construction because the integrity of a furniture parts depends more on the strength performance of these joints than on any other factor. There are many types of joints used in wood furniture manufacturing, including dovetails, mortise and tenon, dowels, screws, metal plates, and so on. Dovetail joints, renowned for their high strength performance, are a commonly encountered method, especially in drawers, chairs, and tables. Dovetail joints are a preferred method of connection, especially in joints subjected to tensile loads. A study was conducted on the tensile strength of dovetail fasteners used to join the front and side sections of drawers in furniture intended for storage purposes. In this context, dovetail joint fasteners affecting tensile strength was measured and compared among fasteners commonly used in the market made from Poly amide (PA) material by injection method and those produced from tough Polylactic Acid (PLA) using a 3 D printer under laboratory conditions. Results indicated that the average tensile strength of 3D printed tough PLA dovetails is 2043 N while the average tensile strength of injected PA dovetail fasteners is 933 N.