The initial plan involved creating a simple cutout of the tree outline into a flat board. The gaps created by the milling process were to be filled with colored resin. However, the design was gradually modified until the 2D cutout was replaced with a 3D relief, enhanced with backlighting using LED strips. As a result, the piece could serve not only as decoration but also as a source of indirect/diffused light.

Two main hanging options were considered. The tree could either be suspended from the ceiling like a chandelier or mounted on the wall as a backlit decoration. The client ultimately chose the wall-mounted version.

Since the design was intended for placement on a light-toned surface, it was clear that the tree and the surrounding frame should have a dark hue. American walnut was chosen as the base material due to its beautiful, dark brown color.

The Tree of Life relief, milled into the panel glueup, was filled with pearlescent white resin, which also functions as a light diffuser for the white LED strips embedded in the back of the frame. The back of the frame was milled with holes for the mounting hardware, which was crafted from polished brass.

As a finish, a clear wood varnish was applied for practicality.

Dimensions: diameter 130cm, depth 7 cm

Weight: 30kg

Work in progress photos:

The entire project essentially served as a test for the computer-controlled milling machine (CNC), which was completed literally a day before the start of the Tree of Life production. One of the first tasks was testing the milling of the relief into polystyrene to verify not only the functionality of the electronics but also the mechanical rigidity of the frame, stability, and reliability of the movement units.

Next, the twisted planks were straightened. The final planing of the planks was left to the planer, which provided a much smoother surface. After gluing the planks together, a hole was milled into the back for the base resin.

During the curing of the resin, work began on the back of the frame, which included grooves for placing the LED strips. Resin, slightly tinted white, was chosen as the light diffuser. In the first phase, grooves were milled to serve as molds for casting the resin. After the resin was cast and cured, the outer edges were milled, and a groove for the LED strips was milled into the cured resin.

During the production of the back frame, the resin cast in the previous step had cured, allowing the milling of the relief to begin. Except for a few short breaks, the milling machine ran continuously for about 90 hours. Several tools were used in the spindle in succession: from wide tools for leveling the front side, to roughing tools for removing large amounts of material, and finally to pointed tools for milling the final relief.

Then there were just the "small details" left, such as gluing the back frame, hand-sanding the individual branches, and finally applying a clear wood varnish.

Then it was time to make the anchoring elements from brass, which, with its golden hue, complements the American walnut very well. Brass is also relatively easy to grind, polish, and mill. So once again, the computer-controlled milling machine came into play. The leftover wood from the production process was used to test the program for milling the holes for the anchoring elements. Then, there was only one step left: to place them in the back part of the frame.