Com Plates Wooden Tableware

The machining technology used for Com Plates wasn’t developed specifically for their production; rather, it was a method I developed ten years ago when I was making original iPhone cases out of aluminum alloy.I never wanted to own the same things as everyone else, so I decided to create my own unique iPhone case.I occasionally used an aluminum alloy called ultra high strength duralumin during mold manufacturing it boasts the highest strength among all aluminum alloys.Since it offers excellent machinability and produces a very clean finish, it didn’t take me long to choose it as the material.At the time, solid carved metal iPhone cases were already on the market, but they were all thick and bulky, which detracted from the stylish design of the iPhone itself.To create a case that would compromise the iPhone’s design as little as possible, it was necessary to make it as thin as possible.However, even though it’s metal, machining a thick sheet into a case with a minimum thickness of 1 mm using conventional machines would cause it to warp during the process.At the time, I was making molds for plastic injection molding.Injection molds create products by injecting molten plastic at high pressure into the gap between the male and female mold halves.That’s where the idea came from. First, I machined the inner shape of the workpiece to match the female mold.I then created a male mold that fit into that space, placed the workpiece with the machined female mold over it, and set it up in the machine. By machining the outer surface of the product in this state, the support on the reverse side prevents deformation, allowing me to machine it thinner without warping.Using this method, I was able to achieve a thickness of up to 1 mm.Based on this practical experience, I wondered if the same method could be applied to wood,So I attempted to commercialize a scaled down version of the award winning design.It is a small plate, smaller than the award winning Com Plates, with a depth of about 7 mm.Depending on the type of wood, we were able to process not only hardwoods but also certain types of softwoods without any warping.Next, we created a prototype that was not flat like a plate but had more practical uses, such as a deep salad bowl.Just like the flat plates, the result was Com Plates with minimal warping.

Generally, when crafting wooden products, wood is selected based on the characteristics required for the product, such as having a uniform grain pattern.Wood that is discarded or used as scrap is often material that does not meet these selection criteria and has little practical value.Com Plates has no specific criteria for material selection.Any piece of wood measuring 230 mm × 180 mm and 40 mm thick can be used.Furthermore, these pieces are incredibly thin and lightweight unlike anything typically found in wood products.To address storage issues, they are specially designed to be stackable.This was achieved by applying metalworking techniques to woodworking.Even if you aren’t involved in both industries like I am, it’s important to actively exchange ideas with other fields and build technical partnerships.And by adding high value to waste, it is transformed from mere trash into a valuable resource.

Since I don’t work for a large corporation, I have to handle everything myself as much as possible.Sometimes I’m a designer, sometimes an engineer, sometimes a CNC programmer, and sometimes a mechanical technician.Because there’s no division of labor like in a large corporation, I don’t have to deal with conflicting opinions, coordinate with other departments, or oversee multiple divisions.Even when issues arise that require improvement, I can address them immediately.Since I handle everything from problem identification to problem solving on my own, the biggest advantage is that I can take action without any hesitation.