Edible materials can make experimenting with 3-D printing more fun for kids.
The latest technology from Ontario-based Structur3D Printing lets printers work with a wide variety of gel materials to produce everything from silicone-based orthotic shoe inserts to custom cake toppers printed from icing sugar.
The technology of 3D printing machinery that carves or sculpts 3D objects from a block of material using a computer generated design has been around for years. Although fast and accurate, this technology is very expensive to operate. Most 3-D printers can turn designs into solid structures but can only build with one or two types of solid plastic.
With this new technology one can print on things like silicone, latex and polyurethane that are extremely flexible and turn out cheaper than traditional 3-D printing plastic. They are more useful where a more rigid material cannot be used.
Recent advances in 3d printing has significantly reduced costs by using machines that make objects by squeezing melted plastic, silicone or rubber through printing heads. The process involves building an object layer by layer rather than carving it from a solid block of material.
Also, working with edible materials can make experimenting with 3-D printing more fun for kids than traditional plastic printing.
Structur3D has had success printing 3-D images and now plans to work with an Ontario youth maker group to experiment with printing food and other fun materials like Play-Doh.
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