What is a 3D food printer?

This is a device that uses 3D printer technology to form and manufacture Food in a three-dimensional manner. While ordinary 3D printers use materials such as plastics and metals, 3D food printers use materials for Food (chocolate, paste-like ingredients, fabrics, etc.). This makes it possible to make food with a design shape and structure.

Dispense technology is supporting the technology of this 3D food printer.
For an easy-to-understand example, please refer to the following photo.


Even if the speed and amount of soft ice cream come out of the machine is constant, the shape of the soft ice cream will collapse if the way of moving the cone (motion) is unstable. The same applies to 3D food printers.
With a 3D food printer, even if you have only the technology of discharge or the technology of motion, it is not possible to stably make the desired shape. 
In order to perform high-quality "three-dimensional modeling", it is important to control both discharge and motion "at the same time" with high accuracy.

Why 3D food printers are attracting attention

Behind the limelight of 3D food printers is the challenge of conventional food systems and the strong need for efficient use of ingredients.

In the conventional mass production and mass disposal system, many non-standard vegetables and livestock products have been generated, and the cost of processing and disposal loss have become major social problems. Especially in the production of agricultural products, there are many cases where the shape is uneven or hard parts are cut off, and even edible parts are often discarded. Waste is also likely to occur in the transportation and storage of foodstuffs, and these improvement measures have been a long-standing issue.

Under these circumstances, new processing technologies are required. With the technology of paste forming and molding, materials can be used effectively without being affected by shape or hardness, making it easier to reuse scraps generated during the production stage and parts that have been discarded before. In addition, the characteristics of 3D food printers are becoming valuable in responding to the diversifying needs of consumers, such as alternative meats and nursing care foods.

In addition, restaurants and hotels have introduced 3D food printers overseas, and it is being applied to limited menus using ingredients that are easy to use every season. We are accelerating our business expansion, such as desserts with unique shapes and sustainable foods using nutritious vegetable pastes. These global trends suggest that there is sufficient potential for future market expansion.

 

[Examples of introduction] Challenge to Food Loss

Under the theme of utilization of unused resources, we will introduce advanced examples of 3D food printers conducted through joint research with Aichi Industrial Science and Technology Center.

※Provision of materials: Aichi Industrial Science and Technology Center Food Industrial Technology Center
　　　　　　MP Gokyo Food & Chemicals

Effective use of grilled potato skin (sweet potato)

We worked on 3D modeling using grilled sweet potato skin. Usually, the skin of baked sweet potatoes is often shunned for reasons such as "hard" or "bitter", and is discarded and contributes to food loss. Therefore, the skin of baked potatoes is dried in a microwave and powdered with a crusher. The powder was added several% to the material for 3D modeling. As a result, we achieved a smooth finish that is comparable to that of using only the contents of sweet potatoes.

Evolving food additives x 3D food printers

We will introduce a little more detail about how powder-like ingredients are molded with 3D food printers and their specific processes.
For example, if 90% water is added to the carrot powder, the condition of the material becomes liquid. On the other hand, if the amount of water is too small, it will be dry and cohesive. In addition, the results differ depending on the nature of the powder, such as the water absorption of the powder, so it takes a lot of trial and error to find a suitable distribution for 3D modeling.

Additives are useful to solve the problems of these materials themselves. Even if it is a material with high fluidity like water, by adding additives, it is possible to make it sticky and maintain its shape. In addition, by combining the technology of 3D food printers, three-dimensional modeling can be realized.
It also has the potential to add new value and functionality (e.g. texture, flavor, etc.) to the original material.

 

In this way, by using waste from vegetables and ingredients to be discarded as materials for 3D food printers, the potential for new Food recycling is expanded. Furthermore, development of food ink using unused fish in addition to vegetables has started, and expectations for sustainable Food production by utilizing unused resources are growing.

[Examples of introduction] Long-term care food, alternative meat and 3D food printer - French and horni -

Demand for 3D food printers is growing in the fields of nursing care and substitute meat. Here are some backgrounds of needs and specific examples of implementation of our Dispenser.

Provision of materials: Tokyo Medical and Dental University (currently Tokyo University of Science) and chef working on swallowing French
　　　　　MP Gokyo Food & Chemicals

Necessity of nursing care food

Japan is an aging society, and about 30% of the total population is elderly people aged 65 and over. 60% of the elderly are malnutrition, and malnutrition affects disease and delays in recovery. Even if you get older, it is important to get the necessary diet and nutrition.

The following picture is an example of a nursing food. This is a photo of a dish made when a collaboration between Tokyo Medical and Dental University (now Tokyo University of Science) and a chef who also handles swallowing French cuisine. It is a 3D creative mousse dish with a 2D application inspired by a swan with fresh cream and a collection of spheres. It is possible to produce from 2D to 3D with a single hood printer by applying our dispensing technology, which is not found in other companies.

With a beautiful look, you can enjoy a meal from both sight and taste.

The need for substitute meat

Alternative meat can help reduce environmental impact and achieve sustainable Food supply. The population of Japan is declining, but the population is increasing worldwide. Rather than making conventional meat (livestock), it is possible to produce more efficiently with less materials and water. In addition, with the increase in the world population, it is said that it will lead to the problem of the protein crisis (protein crisis).

The following photo is an example of a reproducing cornani.
Normally, pork is used, but ingredients that match the individual's constitution, creed, and taste, such as using chicken paste-shaped ingredients for calorie control and Vee cancer response, or using plant-based soybeans. It is possible to select. For the fat part, we used additives (gelizing agents) that give a fat-like texture without using oils and fats, but it is also possible to utilize naturally derived materials such as coconut oil.
In addition, I tried to add boiled eggs as a corn stew. Especially noteworthy is the yolk shape. It was designed in the shape of a bear to incorporate playfulness and attract the interest of small children.
3D food printers have the potential to not only pursue realistic textures but also create completely new food experiences by leveraging these technologies.

It reproduces the taste and appearance of Kakunii.

How 3D Food Printer Works

We will introduce data creation and procedures for moving 3D food printers.

Basic Procedures

The procedure may differ depending on the modeling method, but basically the following procedure is required to move a 3D printer.

1. Preparation of 3D data (Format: STL)
   For example, take advantage of data obtained using a 3D scanner.
2. Create G-code data with slice software
   Ingest the 3D data into the slice software and convert it to G-code. This G-code is the data for 3D printers to read.

In the case of our food printer

From here, we will explain the procedure with our food printer. We have our original slice software called Mu-SLICER, which makes it easy to operate with 3D data.

Mu-SLICER is a uniquely developed slice software that condenses the know-how we have cultivated in Industry Dispenser, and is a software filled with the functions necessary for 3D food printers to control liquid materials.

Furthermore, if you want to start 3D modeling in the future, there is a free software called "3D Builder", so anyone can easily create 3D data with a simple shape.

We provide a wide range of support not only for the dispensing part of the material output and modeling, but also for the creation of program data and follow-up on operation.

Example of multi-pattern modeling: Chocolate ornament

We are applying the core technologies of dispensing technology to 3D food printers. With this technology, it is possible to realize a variety of patterns, from 2D drawing and ornament making to 3D modeling, with a single printer. In addition to being used as a 3D food printer, we can expect even more innovative product development by combining 2D modeling in applications where production capacity is required.

Flow of introduction and contact information

3D Food Printer of Musashi Engineering

3D Food Printer

• Create various shapes based on 3D data. From chocolate to surimi.

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