Low-cost 3D food printing

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

Jorge Lino (Author) FEUP; Isaac Alves Ferreira (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Ciencia e Tecnologia dos Materiais

Vol. 29

Pages: E265-E269

ISSN: 0870-8312

Publisher: Elsevier España

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 5 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-35S

DOI: 10.1016/j.ctmat.2016.04.007

Abstract (EN): In a close future, it will be possible to print any kind of food through a nozzle, with the desired nutritive quantity, originating richer, healthier and more controlled meals. The exponential growth of this new market led to intensive research worldwide; however, dealing with a low cost printer is not an easy task for the general consumer. This paper presents the difficulties that a common user might face using a 3D food printer, and explains the assembly, configuration and modification of a RepRap Prusa I3 3D printer. An extrusion equipment capable of extruding materials in paste form, focused in the cake industry with sugar pastes, was developed. This extruder allowed the deposition of new materials that couldn't previously be used since they have a solid consistency at low temperatures. The new extruder was tested with two different types of pastes: Nutella (R) chocolate and sugar pastes. The sugar paste prototypes already produced opened different opportunities to improve the surface quality, use of pastes with different colours, more than one extruder and others that in the limit contribute to the possibility of a small business in the cake design area.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 5