Abstract
Optimal design of a roller rail which replaces the ball rail for three-door refrigerators is presented using the finite element analysis and the Taguchi method. Stress and deformation of the roller rail for an initial design are analyzed and evaluated. Optimal design parameters are determined using the Taguchi method. The maximum stress of the optimal design is favorably reduced comparing to the initial design. It is verified through an additional analysis that the drawer on the roller rail will not be derailed even if one opens the drawer with a transverse force.