Over the past few years, there has been a growing interest in 3D printers that can produce all sorts of things from novelty home decorations to utility items, even including some medical applications.
Now, one company wants to move away from plastic-based production in favor of something a little tastier – chocolate-based 3D printing.
Order books opened on April 17 for the so-called Cocoa press (opens in a new tab), at which point a $100 deposit will be taken. Orders in the US and Canada are expected to ship in September 2023, with other markets and a fully assembled version expected to ship later in 2024.
Chocolate 3D printer
The novelty will come at a cost, though, as even the cheapest DIY kits will cost $1,499, with professional packages starting at $3,995. Still, it’s cheaper than creator Ellie Weinstein’s first attempt in 2020, which cost $9,995.
The 150-watt 3D printer has a maximum build volume of 140 x 150 x 150 mm (5.5 x 6 x 6 inches), however the company says the project size is mainly limited by the chocolate cartridge, containing 70g of chocolate, which is designed for pre-heating for 15 minutes “slightly below body temperature” before printing, which is a welcome cost-saving measure compared to the over 200 degrees Celsius required by printers that use plastics.
Cocoa Press says, “We are working on a method that will allow the chocolate to be recharged during printing.”
The DIY kits are said to take around 10 hours to build and are “slightly easier” than assembling the VORON V0.1.
The refill chocolate refills will be available in packs of 10 for $49 and are specially optimized to work with a 3D printer using a blend of cocoa and sustainably sourced palm oil. Cocoa Press says users can choose their own chocolate, though this may require an element of experimentation.
Each of the four pieces that the chocolate touches during pressing can be removed and washed by hand for ease of use.
In addition to designing their own carefully selected piece of chocolate, Cocoa Press has released a number of its own designs for users to try out. There are currently three available on it Printable materials (opens in a new tab) Website.