LaenApr 1, 2025
Jessica Rosenkrantz
A thread on how we created these award plaques (CNC, computational design, woodworking, lasercutting, wood inlay)
Apr 1, 2025 at 5:44pmWeb
Show threadJessica RosenkrantzApr 1, 2025

The plaques build off our Corollaria design software https://n-e-r-v-o-u-s.com/blog/?p=7465#algo

Our software is doing the heavy lifting but it's aided by some back and forth in Rhino. We figured out the overall shapes and sizes of the plaques in Rhino and then bring them into our C++ software to grow the cellular patterns. Renderings were done in Blender

Corollaria jewelry collection

Corollaria is an algorithmic jewelry collection by Nervous System, composed of intricate lattice structures in brass and rubber. It is the spiritual successor to Radiolaria, the very first jewelry …

Nervous System blog
Show threadJessica RosenkrantzApr 1, 2025
We visited a local lumber mill to source the walnut. We ended up buying a MASSIVE slab. We considered buying smaller pieces and joining them together or buying pre-made walnut butcher block but the price was going to be similar for a worse result. The slab we bought is 12 feet long, 1.5" thick and 23" wide at the widest point. The entire piece is not suitable for plaques due to a split on one end and some large knots.
Show threadJessica RosenkrantzApr 1, 2025
We used print outs to figure out how to fit our plaques into the walnut slab
Show threadJessica RosenkrantzApr 1, 2025
We used our tiny shopbot CNC router to plane the slabs, cut the shape of the plaques, and round over the edge. We also drilled holes for the nameplates screws
Show threadJessica RosenkrantzApr 1, 2025
meanwhile we made a baby one as a test of the whole inlay process prior to trying to make a big one. we couldn't afford to mess up a giant slab of walnut
Show threadJessica RosenkrantzApr 1, 2025
OK back to the main event, We lasercut the inlays from maple veneer. We used paper-backed because these and giant and fragile
Show threadJessica RosenkrantzApr 1, 2025
we laser engrave a matching pocket on the walnut plaque for the maple piece to go into
Show threadJessica RosenkrantzApr 1, 2025
then we have to apply glue to the veneer and hammer it into the plaque. This part is tricky and has to be done fast
Show threadJessica RosenkrantzApr 1, 2025
sometimes this didn't go too well and we had to remove the whole thing with dental picks
Show threadJessica RosenkrantzApr 1, 2025
we ended up doing the whole process with masking on the wood for the second two plaques (which we had to sand off)
Show threadJessica RosenkrantzApr 1, 2025
After we sanded the inlayed plaques, we had to seal them. We used osmo polyx oil
Show threadJessica RosenkrantzApr 1, 2025
Next we added the nameplates, each is a different shape. They were cut from aluminum via fiber laser and anodized black. We attached them with teeny tiny screws
Show threadJessica RosenkrantzApr 1, 2025
Here’s the final result!
Show threadkcǃApr 1, 2025
@nervous_jessica 🤩
Show threadMedea Vanamonde🏳️‍⚧️ ♀Apr 2, 2025
@nervous_jessica i scrolled back to the beginning.
This reminded me of long string polymers or precellular stuctures that can spontaneously form from a mix of certain organic chemicals
Show threadJoni, like in MitchellApr 2, 2025
@nervous_jessica Cool!
Show threadJohn Francis 🇨🇦🦫🍁💪⬆️Apr 2, 2025
@nervous_jessica you better give yourselves a award plaque for "Finest Plaques"
Show threadMichael B. JohnsonApr 2, 2025
@nervous_jessica Unbelievable work - congrats!