After getting access to a CNC router table at work and experimenting with carving landscapes, I decided to work on the process and develop an actual product. I purchased a small hobby grade CNC machine for home and got to work. The process involves downloading satellite elevation data from NASA, converting it to a 3D model and importing it into the CNC software. From there I generate the toolpaths and transfer the code to the CNC machine. The landscapes below are carved in maple, walnut and cherry. I make the frames by hand using splined corners. I never did go into business, but I might at some point in the future.

Please contact me if you’d like to commission me to make a piece.