Last year we reported that Liz and Kyle von Hasseln had modified a 3D printer to churn out custom sugary treats. The husband and wife team's efforts appear to have caught the eye of 3D Systems, with the company responsible for the no-assembly-required Cubify and sub-US$1,000 Cube 3 enlisting them to help develop a 3D printer aimed specifically at the kitchen. The result is the new ChefJet series unveiled at CES, which swaps plastic prints for custom culinary creations.
Joining the likes of the BurritoBot and Foodini in the culinary 3D printing arena, the ChefJet series consists of the standard ChefJet, which will squeeze onto countertop, and the ChefJet Pro, which probably won't. Both are targeted at pastry chefs, with the standard ChefJet producing black and white edible prints with a maximum build volume of 8 x 8 x 6 in (20 x 20 x 15 cm), while the ChefJet Pro pumps out full color prints in sizes up to 10 x 14 x 8 in (25 x 36 x 20 cm).
Instead of plastic filament, both printers use sugar and water as the base materials, with the ChefJet Pro also sporting an inkjet head that adds food coloring to the creations for custom standalone candies or cake toppers. These can be created in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, mint, sour apple, cherry and watermelon.
The ChefJet printers will come with a "Digital Cookbook" containing a variety of ready-to-print edible designs, and run software that 3D Systems says is easy for non-CAD users to handle.
Both the ChefJet and ChefJet Pro are scheduled for release in the second half of 2014, with the standard model to be priced under US$5,000 and the Pro to come in under $10,000.
Source: 3D Systems
