3D printing materials are becoming more diverse, but when we talk about additive manufacturing, we often think of plastics or metals. But today we wanted to focus on something very different: food. And yes, some 3D printers allow the creation of sweets, cakes, chocolates, pizzas and dishes of all kinds. A 3D food printer offers more freedom and creativity in the kitchen, and in some cases can even reduce food waste. Although we are not yet convinced that these machines will replace our ovens and microwaves, they have interesting potential for all those who love to cook. In this list, we introduce you to the 3D food printers that are already being used!
3D chocolate moulder – byFlow
The Food Tech byFlow company specializes in 3D printing of chocolate. To print with the notoriously tricky ingredient, the company has developed the 3D Chocolate Shaper, based on proprietary technology for designing all kinds of chocolate pieces. ByFlow provides you with the online chocolate design studio, where you can create your own chocolate designs in minutes. Any type of chocolate can be used with a fully automatic temperature control system. Please note that you can also use this 3D printer to design other sweet or savory foods. ByFlow also opened one of the first restaurants to integrate a 3D food printer.
Photo credits: byFlow
WiibooxSweetin
The WiibooxSweetin 3D Food Printer is a printer that combines precision, quality and creativity and is designed for professional use. Also, the machine is easy to use. All users need to do is download the 3D model files to the machine and start printing. The printing materials? There is (really) something for everyone: chocolate, cheese, mashed potatoes, beans, caramel, honey, jam, cookies. The printer includes a real-time temperature control device that ensures that the food is perfectly sealed. The technology used is fused deposition modeling (FDM), it has several types of nozzles included and it is compatible with .stl .obj. amr files.
Photo credits: WiibooxSweetin
SMRC 3D printing system for space
When people think of 3D printed food, most of the time it’s for projects for people on Earth. But this is not always the case. Enter SMRC’s 3D printed food system, which has been developed to make food for long-duration space missions in collaboration with NASA. The company aims to create foods through 3D printing that have interesting flavors and include nutritional supplements that trigger nutritional degradation from long-term storage. Essentially, the system will dispense slimy food that has been made from powder and ingredients and they have already successfully made cheese pizza using it. They hope to provide healthy nutrition for astronauts.
nufood by Dovetailed
Born out of a hackathon, nūfood is the world’s first liquid-based 3D food printer and was created by Dovetailed. The company doesn’t say exactly how the 3D printing technology works, but the result is essentially edible 3D printed flavor bubbles just like the printer. “offers the ability to create juicy bites in a variety of shapes, flavors and colors on demand.” Users can simply tap on the available app, pour in the flavors and then print, with bursts of 3D food flavors ready in minutes. Plus, the ingredients are high-quality and vegan-friendly, from savory to sweet. The printer is available to rent in the UK for events on their website, although they also note that it is ready for commercial manufacturing.
Photo credits: dovetail
mycusini® 2.0
This chocolate 3D printer definitely steals the limelight from other kitchen appliances! The mycusini® 2.0 has been improved with exciting features since its predecessor and represents the latest generation of the machine. The first thing that catches your eye is the timeless design combined with pink elements. But the device is not only visually striking: the mycusini® 2.0 has a built-in library of more than 1,000 objects that can be called up with the 3.5″ color touch screen, including object preview. If you want to design your 3D objects yourself, you get free access to the mycusini Club. Objects can be printed with the provided Choco refills up to a size of 90 x 90 mm. The removable platform allows easy cleaning of the device. The device is available at a special price of €758.70 on the manufacturer’s website.
Photo credits: mycusini
Clash Creator V2.0 Plus
Following the success of the Choc Creator V1 and V2 devices (which are no longer being sold), the Choc Creator V2.0 Plus is the optimized version of the Choc Edge chocolate 3D printer. The device stands out with a larger drawing area of 180mm x 180mm x 40mm and enables the production of creative chocolate creations with fine lines as small as 0.8mm wide. Common STL files can be used, which are transferred directly to the device with a USB stick. Two 0.8mm metal nozzles are included and the machine comes with 2D and 3D G-Codes pre-installed and ready to print, making the Choc Creator V2.0 Plus ready to use right out of the box. The machine can be purchased for around €3,350.
Photo Credits: Choc Edge
Foodini, the 3D food printer par excellence
Foodini is surely one of the most popular food 3D printers today. It is a kitchen appliance developed by the company Natural Machines, which allows the personalization of food and 3D printing. They claim that this solution makes it possible to eat healthier dishes, improve kitchen efficiency and reduce food waste. The competitive advantage is that users can create all kinds of dishes using their own natural and fresh ingredients. Regarding the user experience, Foodini stands out for its ease of configuration and interaction when working with the machine. From loading the stainless steel capsules to interacting with the large touch screen, Foodini guides the user through every step of the process. What better way to get started with 3D food printing?
Photo Credits: Natural Machines
Brill 3D Culinary Studio, 3D printing in the culinary arts
Brill Inc. and 3D Systems have teamed up to develop an innovative new additive manufacturing system that aims to revolutionize the culinary arts. The result of a multi-year collaboration, this professional full color 3D printing technology offers culinary enthusiasts a unique opportunity to create original and personalized dishes, figures, side dishes and anything else they can imagine. As for the 3D printing process, users must start by separating the wet and dry ingredients, so the machine can mix them with automated precision, and then create the models layer by layer. This system includes 3D Systems software, the Brill 3D Culinary Printer machine and finally the powders and binders that allow the production of an unlimited range of original creations.
Photo credits: Brill Inc.
Procusini 5.0
The Procusini 5.0 3D food printer was developed by the German company Print2Taste and is based on an extrusion process. It has a 25 x 15 cm printing plate and weighs only 9 kilos, making it easy to transport and integrate into the kitchen. It is considered today as a machine for restoration professionals. It offers automatic calibration and connectivity via an SD card. It is a printer that has cartridges that can be heated up to 60 degrees, easy to clean and simple to change. The Procusini 5.0 user will be able to access the Procusini Club allowing him to download more than 1,000 templates, logos, messages, etc. as well as get tips and tricks.
Photo Credits: Print2Taste
The Mmuse 3D Food Printer
The Chinese manufacturer Mmuse is behind the machine of the same name, which specializes in the extrusion of chocolate. It is a 3D food printer that has a print volume of 160 x 130 x 150mm, a nozzle diameter of 0.8mm, and a print speed of 30-60mm/s. The Mmuse printer uses cocoa beans that are melted, all in a temperature controlled environment. It also incorporates a touch screen to facilitate user operations and monitor their prints in real time. Today, this 3D food printer is available starting at $5,700.
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