Dec.27, 2013
Are you looking for a unique gift for this season? Now you can have your portrait created using the world's first 3D chocolate printer.
In 2011 researchers at Britain's University of Exeter developed the world's first 3D chocolate printer. The device, called Choc Creator Version 1, uses the principles of rapid prototyping to layer molten chocolate, rather than plastic, into any shape you can imagine. Choc Creator utilizes an easy-to-use syringe based chocolate deposition head which allows users to rapidly install and remove syringe head units. The design enables users to refill the syringe with fresh chocolate or different types of chocolates conveniently.
"What makes this technology special is that users will be able to design and make their own products." says Dr. Liang Hao, the head of Choc Edge, the company behind Choc Creator. For this season, Choc Edge is offering 3D printing service to build any 3D shape out of chocolate - including your own face.
Customers can simply send an image of themselves via e-mail and the 3D chocolate printer creates a chocolate portrait in dark, milk or white chocolate for between £50 and £80.
"The chocolate faces have proven really popular with the customers as they work really well as presents for people." said Christina Zheng, business development director of Choc Edge. The device can print chocolate onto any flat surface including cakes and biscuits, and it can also be used to produce a 2D portrait on edible rice paper for £24.99, dailymail reported.
Choc Edge says it plans to print chocolate in a range of different colours, and to supply to retail units on the high street so that everyone can print their own chocolate designs in their local chocolate shop.
Chocolate is not an easy material to work with because it requires accurate heating and cooling cycles. These variables then have to be integrated with the correct flow rates for the 3D printing process. And the researchers overcame these difficulties with the development of new temperature and heating control systems. "The 3D chocolate printer opens up the possibility of a much wider participation, much fuller participation for the consumer in the production process." says Dr. Liang. "In the long term it could be developed to help consumers custom-design many products from different materials but we've started with chocolate as it is readily available, low cost and non-hazardous. There is also no wastage as any unused or spoiled material can be eaten, of course! From reproducing the shape of a child's favourite toy to a friend's face, the possibilities are endless and only limited by our creativity."
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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Are you selling the extruders? I'd be interested in buying. Normdealbq2@yahoo.com
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