Three young MIT students might help revolutionize the way ice cream is served. Using a Cuisinart soft-serve ice cream machine and a Solidoodle, the trio came up with a way to produce edible star shapes. The process involves having a modified 3D printer control the placement of the ice cream, which is blasted with liquid nitrogen to ensure it retains its desired shape. The team told 3DPrint.com that they felt consumers would lose interest if forced to wait longer than 10 to 15 minutes, so they set that as their benchmark.
Co-creator Kristine Bunker told TechCrunch that the group believes it is just as vital to interest the younger generation in technology as it is to concoct new innovations. This was one of the major reasons they elected to create an ice cream printer, which they saw as appealing to the younger demographic. While the students' invention is a novel idea, 3D printers have already been used extensively in the culinary realm. Chocolates, ice cream, and NASA-endorsed pizzas are just some delectable treats that have been manufactured, and with printer prices continuing to fall, that trend looks set to continue.