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Chocolate Printer Lets You Design Your Own Treats
Updated: Thursday, 07 Jul 2011, 2:56 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 07 Jul 2011, 2:55 PM EDT
(EndPlay Staff Reports) - Chocoholics everywhere will be pleased with this news – a 3D chocolate printer.
The 3D chocolate printer uses the latest 3D printing technology of building layers to create an object, the University of Exeter website explained.
The printer reads the digital image on a computer, and then begins creating it by building the picture layer by layer resulting in a 3D chocolate creation.
One problem faced in creating the confectioner's dream was temperature. The technology has been used with materials like metal and plastic, but never chocolate because of the tendency for it to melt
Dr. Liang Hao, the researcher team leader, said that they overcame the temperature issue by using a new temperature control heating and cooling system.
Still a prototype, when the printer does become available, many dealers have said that they are interested in using it for their business, the BBC reported.
Joanna Grant, a gift retailer in the U.K., told the BBC, "Obviously, it's chocolate, so it is hugely appealing. We could do things like 3D faces, for instance – the possibilities are enormous on a commercial aspect."
The 3D chocolate printer will likely be an invention that will have easy access for the average consumer, too.
Dr. Hao and his team have expressed a desire to give chocolate lovers everywhere the opportunity to share their 3D chocolate creations through a social network and plan on creating a website for the printer where people can discuss their chocolate experiences.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, who funded the research, features a video of how the 3D chocolate printer works.
Updated: Thursday, 07 Jul 2011, 2:56 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 07 Jul 2011, 2:55 PM EDT
(EndPlay Staff Reports) - Chocoholics everywhere will be pleased with this news – a 3D chocolate printer.
The 3D chocolate printer uses the latest 3D printing technology of building layers to create an object, the University of Exeter website explained.
The printer reads the digital image on a computer, and then begins creating it by building the picture layer by layer resulting in a 3D chocolate creation.
One problem faced in creating the confectioner's dream was temperature. The technology has been used with materials like metal and plastic, but never chocolate because of the tendency for it to melt
Dr. Liang Hao, the researcher team leader, said that they overcame the temperature issue by using a new temperature control heating and cooling system.
Still a prototype, when the printer does become available, many dealers have said that they are interested in using it for their business, the BBC reported.
Joanna Grant, a gift retailer in the U.K., told the BBC, "Obviously, it's chocolate, so it is hugely appealing. We could do things like 3D faces, for instance – the possibilities are enormous on a commercial aspect."
The 3D chocolate printer will likely be an invention that will have easy access for the average consumer, too.
Dr. Hao and his team have expressed a desire to give chocolate lovers everywhere the opportunity to share their 3D chocolate creations through a social network and plan on creating a website for the printer where people can discuss their chocolate experiences.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, who funded the research, features a video of how the 3D chocolate printer works.
