Well, not quite yet, but you can be sure it's right around the
corner.

Perhaps most of you are not aware of 3D printing yet. That's where a
computer controlled 3-axis nozzle extrudes some kinda glop in layers
to build up a 3D object. The glop is usually some kinda hard setting
resin that will produce a solid object. Now, imagine some kinda food
glop. Not too difficult to imagine, as there is plenty of it out
there, already. Think soft-serve ice cream or Cheez Whiz on a 3-axis
bed, only the glop sets up hard, or at least firm. It might look jes
like this:

http://creativemachines.cornell.edu/node/194

Frankly, I don't look forward to a KA or Cuisinart food printer, as it
means we will be making more and more of our foods into some kinda
spam-like sludge to force though a buncha interchangeable nozzles.
But, I suspect it's gonna be pushed on us, rather we want it or not.
In fact, it's rumored there's already a iPhone app that will phone in
a custom 3D burrito. Not too far fetched to imagine. An all glop
burrito. Taco Bell's offerings are pretty much there, already. Jes
need some lettuce glop.

Come to think of it, we already have a 3D food printer. It sits on a
porcelain water filled mount. Not much control, though. My 2D drink
jet printer works much better. I can write my name!

nb

--
Definition of objectivism:
"Eff you! I got mine."
http://www.nongmoproject.org/

On 9/1/2012 4:56 AM, notbob wrote:
> Well, not quite yet, but you can be sure it's right around the
> corner.
>
> Perhaps most of you are not aware of 3D printing yet. That's where a
> computer controlled 3-axis nozzle extrudes some kinda glop in layers
> to build up a 3D object. The glop is usually some kinda hard setting
> resin that will produce a solid object. Now, imagine some kinda food
> glop. Not too difficult to imagine, as there is plenty of it out
> there, already. Think soft-serve ice cream or Cheez Whiz on a 3-axis
> bed, only the glop sets up hard, or at least firm. It might look jes
> like this:
>
> http://creativemachines.cornell.edu/node/194
>
> Frankly, I don't look forward to a KA or Cuisinart food printer, as it
> means we will be making more and more of our foods into some kinda
> spam-like sludge to force though a buncha interchangeable nozzles.
> But, I suspect it's gonna be pushed on us, rather we want it or not.
> In fact, it's rumored there's already a iPhone app that will phone in
> a custom 3D burrito. Not too far fetched to imagine. An all glop
> burrito. Taco Bell's offerings are pretty much there, already. Jes
> need some lettuce glop.
>
> Come to think of it, we already have a 3D food printer. It sits on a
> porcelain water filled mount. Not much control, though. My 2D drink
> jet printer works much better. I can write my name!
>
> nb
>

I think we'll be seeing all kinds of amazing, beautiful, food products
made by 3D printing. One of these days, we'll print our own guitars.

The hearing aid industry has been printing custom hearing aid shells for
about 20 years. These days, most everybody does it that way. OTOH, at
least one manufacturer has rejected printing 3D shells. They prefer to
do it the old fashioned way by using investment casting. Oddly enough,
they do an excellent job.

On 2012-09-01, dsi1 > wrote:
>
> I think we'll be seeing all kinds of amazing, beautiful, food products

I notice you didn't include any adjectives related to flavor.

nb

--
Definition of objectivism:
"Eff you! I got mine."
http://www.nongmoproject.org/

On 9/1/2012 11:23 AM, notbob wrote:
> On 2012-09-01, dsi1 > wrote:
>>
>> I think we'll be seeing all kinds of amazing, beautiful, food products
>
> I notice you didn't include any adjectives related to flavor.
>
> nb
>

I think the first food products will be mostly decorative in nature
although I believe that it will eventually be possible to print a steak.
It will taste so-so but nothing like the real thing. Taste won't matter
much because real steak will be mostly for the rich.

On 9/1/2012 4:56 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> On 9/1/2012 11:23 AM, notbob wrote:
>> On 2012-09-01, dsi1 > wrote:
>>>
>>> I think we'll be seeing all kinds of amazing, beautiful, food products
>>
>> I notice you didn't include any adjectives related to flavor.
>>
>> nb
>>
>
> I think the first food products will be mostly decorative in nature
> although I believe that it will eventually be possible to print a steak.
> It will taste so-so but nothing like the real thing. Taste won't matter
> much because real steak will be mostly for the rich.

Images of Captain Picard stand in front of his replicator asking for
"Tea, Earl Grey" are being invoked by this thread.

--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.

On 9/1/2012 6:34 PM, Janet Wilder wrote:
>
> Images of Captain Picard stand in front of his replicator asking for
> "Tea, Earl Grey" are being invoked by this thread.
>

I wish I could print myself a tall glass of ice water right now! After
3D printers, we'll have 4D printers. We'll be able to print holes that
we can apply to any surface. It's a very handy technology.

On 2012-09-01, notbob > wrote:

> means we will be making more and more of our foods into some kinda
> spam-like sludge to force though a buncha interchangeable nozzles.

DOH!! Too late:

<http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57493377-76/3d-printed-meat-its-whats-for-dinner/>

Can you say Soylent Green?

nb

--
Definition of objectivism:
"Eff you! I got mine."
http://www.nongmoproject.org/

Janet Wilder wrote:

> Images of Captain Picard stand in front of his replicator asking for
> "Tea, Earl Grey" are being invoked by this thread.

On the original ST, the evil Capt. Kirk once ordered a "bloody steak"
from the machine.

dsi1 wrote:
> On 9/1/2012 4:56 AM, notbob wrote:
>> Well, not quite yet, but you can be sure it's right around the
>> corner.
>>
>> Perhaps most of you are not aware of 3D printing yet. That's where a
>> computer controlled 3-axis nozzle extrudes some kinda glop in layers
>> to build up a 3D object. The glop is usually some kinda hard setting
>> resin that will produce a solid object. Now, imagine some kinda food
>> glop. Not too difficult to imagine, as there is plenty of it out
>> there, already. Think soft-serve ice cream or Cheez Whiz on a 3-axis
>> bed, only the glop sets up hard, or at least firm. It might look jes
>> like this:
>>
>> http://creativemachines.cornell.edu/node/194
>>
>> Frankly, I don't look forward to a KA or Cuisinart food printer, as it
>> means we will be making more and more of our foods into some kinda
>> spam-like sludge to force though a buncha interchangeable nozzles.
>> But, I suspect it's gonna be pushed on us, rather we want it or not.
>> In fact, it's rumored there's already a iPhone app that will phone in
>> a custom 3D burrito. Not too far fetched to imagine. An all glop
>> burrito. Taco Bell's offerings are pretty much there, already. Jes
>> need some lettuce glop.
>>
>> Come to think of it, we already have a 3D food printer. It sits on a
>> porcelain water filled mount. Not much control, though. My 2D drink
>> jet printer works much better. I can write my name!
>>
>> nb
>>
>
> I think we'll be seeing all kinds of amazing, beautiful, food products
> made by 3D printing. One of these days, we'll print our own guitars.
>
> The hearing aid industry has been printing custom hearing aid shells for
> about 20 years. These days, most everybody does it that way. OTOH, at
> least one manufacturer has rejected printing 3D shells. They prefer to
> do it the old fashioned way by using investment casting. Oddly enough,
> they do an excellent job.
>
>
I'd rather print totem pole-type things or objects based on
third-world art.

--
Jean B.

dsi1 wrote:
> On 9/1/2012 4:56 AM, notbob wrote:
>> Well, not quite yet, but you can be sure it's right around the
>> corner.
>>
>> Perhaps most of you are not aware of 3D printing yet. That's where a
>> computer controlled 3-axis nozzle extrudes some kinda glop in layers
>> to build up a 3D object. The glop is usually some kinda hard setting
>> resin that will produce a solid object. Now, imagine some kinda food
>> glop. Not too difficult to imagine, as there is plenty of it out
>> there, already. Think soft-serve ice cream or Cheez Whiz on a 3-axis
>> bed, only the glop sets up hard, or at least firm. It might look jes
>> like this:
>>
>> http://creativemachines.cornell.edu/node/194
>>
>> Frankly, I don't look forward to a KA or Cuisinart food printer, as it
>> means we will be making more and more of our foods into some kinda
>> spam-like sludge to force though a buncha interchangeable nozzles.
>> But, I suspect it's gonna be pushed on us, rather we want it or not.
>> In fact, it's rumored there's already a iPhone app that will phone in
>> a custom 3D burrito. Not too far fetched to imagine. An all glop
>> burrito. Taco Bell's offerings are pretty much there, already. Jes
>> need some lettuce glop.
>>
>> Come to think of it, we already have a 3D food printer. It sits on a
>> porcelain water filled mount. Not much control, though. My 2D drink
>> jet printer works much better. I can write my name!
>>
>> nb
>>
>
> I think we'll be seeing all kinds of amazing, beautiful, food products
> made by 3D printing. One of these days, we'll print our own guitars.
>
> The hearing aid industry has been printing custom hearing aid shells for
> about 20 years. These days, most everybody does it that way. OTOH, at
> least one manufacturer has rejected printing 3D shells. They prefer to
> do it the old fashioned way by using investment casting. Oddly enough,
> they do an excellent job.
>
Oh, I am now thinking of dental crowns and implants.

--
Jean B.

On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 22:46:59 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:

> dsi1 wrote:
> >
> > I think we'll be seeing all kinds of amazing, beautiful, food products
> > made by 3D printing. One of these days, we'll print our own guitars.
> >
> > The hearing aid industry has been printing custom hearing aid shells for
> > about 20 years. These days, most everybody does it that way. OTOH, at
> > least one manufacturer has rejected printing 3D shells. They prefer to
> > do it the old fashioned way by using investment casting. Oddly enough,
> > they do an excellent job.
> >
> Oh, I am now thinking of dental crowns and implants.

How do you make those 3D tooth images hard and how do hearing aides
hear without a chip? Neither one seems like it would be any more
durable than a piece of (real) chalk. Think about something that
you're trying to use *now* when it breaks. What's your first
reaction? If you have another option, are you likely to use it again?

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On 9/2/2012 4:45 PM, Jean B. wrote:
>>
>>
> I'd rather print totem pole-type things or objects based on third-world
> art.
>
> --
> Jean B.

Sounds like conceptual art. Someone will print a soup can or what
appears to be a primitive art object and stick it in a gallery. It'll
blow everybody's mind. OTOH, if you're a rich kid in Dubai with $300 to
blow...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDMiJR8Vuvc&feature=plcp

On 9/2/2012 4:46 PM, Jean B. wrote:
> dsi1 wrote:
>> On 9/1/2012 4:56 AM, notbob wrote:
>>> Well, not quite yet, but you can be sure it's right around the
>>> corner.
>>>
>>> Perhaps most of you are not aware of 3D printing yet. That's where a
>>> computer controlled 3-axis nozzle extrudes some kinda glop in layers
>>> to build up a 3D object. The glop is usually some kinda hard setting
>>> resin that will produce a solid object. Now, imagine some kinda food
>>> glop. Not too difficult to imagine, as there is plenty of it out
>>> there, already. Think soft-serve ice cream or Cheez Whiz on a 3-axis
>>> bed, only the glop sets up hard, or at least firm. It might look jes
>>> like this:
>>>
>>> http://creativemachines.cornell.edu/node/194
>>>
>>> Frankly, I don't look forward to a KA or Cuisinart food printer, as it
>>> means we will be making more and more of our foods into some kinda
>>> spam-like sludge to force though a buncha interchangeable nozzles.
>>> But, I suspect it's gonna be pushed on us, rather we want it or not.
>>> In fact, it's rumored there's already a iPhone app that will phone in
>>> a custom 3D burrito. Not too far fetched to imagine. An all glop
>>> burrito. Taco Bell's offerings are pretty much there, already. Jes
>>> need some lettuce glop.
>>>
>>> Come to think of it, we already have a 3D food printer. It sits on a
>>> porcelain water filled mount. Not much control, though. My 2D drink
>>> jet printer works much better. I can write my name!
>>>
>>> nb
>>>
>>
>> I think we'll be seeing all kinds of amazing, beautiful, food products
>> made by 3D printing. One of these days, we'll print our own guitars.
>>
>> The hearing aid industry has been printing custom hearing aid shells
>> for about 20 years. These days, most everybody does it that way. OTOH,
>> at least one manufacturer has rejected printing 3D shells. They prefer
>> to do it the old fashioned way by using investment casting. Oddly
>> enough, they do an excellent job.
>>
> Oh, I am now thinking of dental crowns and implants.
>
> --
> Jean B.

The process excels at producing one-off fabricated pieces - it will
create a revolution in the manufacturing of orthodontic appliances.

In article >,
says...
>
> On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 22:46:59 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:
>
> > dsi1 wrote:
> > >
> > > I think we'll be seeing all kinds of amazing, beautiful, food products
> > > made by 3D printing. One of these days, we'll print our own guitars.
> > >
> > > The hearing aid industry has been printing custom hearing aid shells for
> > > about 20 years. These days, most everybody does it that way. OTOH, at
> > > least one manufacturer has rejected printing 3D shells. They prefer to
> > > do it the old fashioned way by using investment casting. Oddly enough,
> > > they do an excellent job.
> > >
> > Oh, I am now thinking of dental crowns and implants.
>
> How do you make those 3D tooth images hard and how do hearing aides
> hear without a chip? Neither one seems like it would be any more
> durable than a piece of (real) chalk. Think about something that
> you're trying to use *now* when it breaks. What's your first
> reaction? If you have another option, are you likely to use it again?

The "shell" on a hearing aid is a custom-fidded elastomeric piece that
goes between the factory made parts (like the chip) and the user--it's
custom made both for comfort and to provide a good sound seal. It
doesn't have to be strong, just precisely made.

As for being "no more durable than a piece of chalk", I think that solid
titanium is a bit stronger than a piece of chalk--the 3d printers used
for dental implants print solid titanium and other alloys.

You might want to read the wikipedia article, which gives a pretty
decent rundon of the different processes.

sf wrote:
> On Sun, 02 Sep 2012 22:46:59 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:
>
>> dsi1 wrote:
>>> I think we'll be seeing all kinds of amazing, beautiful, food products
>>> made by 3D printing. One of these days, we'll print our own guitars.
>>>
>>> The hearing aid industry has been printing custom hearing aid shells for
>>> about 20 years. These days, most everybody does it that way. OTOH, at
>>> least one manufacturer has rejected printing 3D shells. They prefer to
>>> do it the old fashioned way by using investment casting. Oddly enough,
>>> they do an excellent job.
>>>
>> Oh, I am now thinking of dental crowns and implants.
>
> How do you make those 3D tooth images hard and how do hearing aides
> hear without a chip? Neither one seems like it would be any more
> durable than a piece of (real) chalk. Think about something that
> you're trying to use *now* when it breaks. What's your first
> reaction? If you have another option, are you likely to use it again?
>
I have NO idea how these things work, but it sounds like an
interesting concept. I will play it by ear.

--
Jean B.