Much to the dismay of discerning dessert lovers everywhere, when an ice cream dispenser is operated, the swirls are often inconsistent, leaving kids crying and some adults feeling as though they've gotten the short end of the stick. After a fight nearly broke out for this reason between Chen Liyuan and his wife when they were getting ice cream from a vendor, Liyuan decided that there had to be a better way to dish out the soft serve dessert.
As the Assistant Professor at Taiwan's Department of Industrial Management of Chien Hsin University of Science and Technology, Liyuan sought out 3D printing technology for a solution. By hacking a 3D printer, he was able to create the '3D Ice Cream Machine,' which is capable of producing square, round and triangular swirls that are evenly distributed each time. Most impressively, the machine can also pump out 10 cm replicas of the 101 Taipei Tower.
Towering Ice Cream Printers
Chen Liyuan's 3D Printing Ice Cream Dispenser Doles Out Cones Fairly
Trend Themes
1. Consistent Dessert Dispensers - The demand for dispensers capable of consistently producing evenly distributed soft serve dessert swirls using 3D printing technology.
2. Custom Shaped Treats - The trend towards 3D printers for producing customized ice cream treats in various shapes, such as Liyuan's 10cm replica of the 101 Taipei Tower.
3. 3D Printed Vending Machines - The growing demand for vending machines using 3D printing technology to create and dispense custom ice cream treats with greater precision and consistency.
Industry Implications
1. Food & Beverage - Food and beverage industry professionals may want to explore incorporating 3D printing technology in ice cream dispensers to produce consistent swirls in unique shapes.
2. Manufacturing - Manufacturing industry professionals can take a cue from Liyuan and explore the potential of hacking 3D printers to create innovative products.
3. Vending - The vending industry can benefit from adding 3D printing technology to create custom and unique ice cream treats which can be dispensed with greater consistency and precision.