Steemians, are you ready to eat food that comes out of a 3d printer!?

in #science8 years ago (edited)

Hi steemians! In my last post, I introduced 4d printing and its applications. In this post, I would like to bring us back to 3d printing. Even though we know that 3d printing is a wonderful technology in turning complex designs to reality, but mass adoption of domestic 3d printers is not quite there yet. And that is is because it does not fill a current need at home.

But this particular technology can potentially change 3d printing at home.

In a recent piece of news, a group of researchers at Columbia University is developing a 3d printer that “cook” and print your meals! This group of researchers is led by Professor Hod Lipson, a brilliant roboticist who does artificial intelligence and digital manufacturing.

And here it is their food 3d printer looking like a coffee machine.

Source: here

This food 3d printer is currently under development. But i can see many benefits with this technology already. First, the nutrients composition of food can be controlled precisely by the food science people. This is great for athletes, children, pregnant women, overweight and underweight people, and patients who require a specific diet. Just to brainstorm some of the possible candidates who can take up this technology: hospitals, fast food restaurants (if machine is fast enough to print burgers!), and maybe home makers! Second, for people who can't cook, this technology may be your life savior! In fact, Professor Hod Lipson and his team are working with International Culinary Center, a culinary school based in New York. This collaboration makes sense because meals at home must not only look aesthetically appetizing, they should also taste good. Third, everything is done by a smart machine aka your every own "personal chef"! As a home maker, i am looking forward to this piece of technology already!

Current food 3d printers are only limited to a few food like candies, chocolate, etc.

So this piece of technology developed by Professor Hod Lipson and his team can be a potential game changer.

Frankly speaking, this is the future I am visualizing myself in the kitchen.

Perfect for a mum who needs to cook for 3 in 45 minutes every day! What do you think of eating food from a 3d printer?

Images credits for gif: 1


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I will wait until the health ramifications are known from this type of diet, but damn fascinating for sure.

it is! more development.

Hmmmm. NOW you're talking. This is an interesting concept....I don't even know what to think about it. On the one hand, super cool. Kind of reminds me of the gum on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that changed flavors like a 4-course meal, and made Violet change colors. On the other hand....I'm a mom. This has marvelous implications!

Yeah indeed. I watched that movie too.
Everyday, i just feel like cutting ingredients and put into a machine and viola, out comes a meal. My husband said wishful thinking

"Tea, Earl Grey, Hot"
Make it so. :-)

"You have the bridge, number 1. ...But please use my usual space mug next time. This one looks like my grandma's"

A 3D printer that could use a 'feedstock' to print a variety of foods would be fantastic. Especially if the feedstock had a long shelflife with no refrigeration. Something like a can of cooking oil perhaps? The next big thing will be when a 3D printer can print another 3D printer. Self replicating. Given that we'll enter into a 'society of abundance' where anything that can be printed will be available for the cost of raw materials and power.

That will change everything.

Not sure about cooking oil because i can imagine that that it might be hard for it to solidify as a part. What might be possible is printing a bottle and filling cooking oil in it at the same through different extruders. And yes, it is an exciting field and i am always reading about it.

I didn't mean cooking oil as such. I meant 'stored in a package needing no refrigeration' similar to cooking oil. I'm sure it would have to be a special feedstock containing all the nutrients and vitamins that the body requires. Obviously cooking oil does not have that.

sorry did not get it the first time. now i got it. sure, it is most likely formulated as a special feedstock before flowing out from a nozzle. Just wondering how they are going to do that. I guess the food science people will do it quite well

excellent his view thank you very much for the information

made possible by CNC

I am very curious about the taste the food will have (as this is a subjective matter, this means I would love to test :p)

I have tasted the candies and chocolate that came out of the 3d printers before. Well, they tasted like candies and chocolate. I think it depends on what kind of food the culinary guys can mix and match for a meal using the 3d printer. I will not hesitate to try it :-)

I second you on that one. I am very curious and would be happy to try it :)

Getting closer to the Star Trek replicator?