Materials - 3D Printing: The Basics and Beyond - page 53

bon fiber is also used in Cincinnati Inc.'s and Oak Ridge National Laboratory's “Big Area
Additive Manufacturing” (BAAM) process.
Kevlar : Markforged also markets Kevlar as a composite ingredient, which is used with the
CFF process.
Bio-materials : Bio-materials in its most advanced form consist of hydrogels containing
living cells which are used to 3D print cartilage or organs. Biocompatible plastics like
PEEK or metals like titanium used for orthopedic implants etc. are also categorized as bio-
materials.
Electronics : Optomec is one of the companies that 3D prints electronics. They use an aer-
osol jetting technology for printing electronic circuits, antennas etc. on various surfaces. A
hobbyist version of an electronics printer was made available through a Kickstarter cam-
paign in 2013, when the Australian start-up Cartesian launched the first desktop circuit
board printer “Argentum”. Whether printing of circuit boards should be categorized as 3D
printing or not may be disputed.
Chocolate : 3D printing of chocolate is of commercial interest for the chocolate industry,
chocolate stores, professional cake makers etc. This is a 3D printing application that can
be put into real use in a small business. The first pioneer in chocolate 3D printing was
probably South African Fouche Chocolates, who started with chocolate printing already in
the 90s. Another of the pioneers in chocolate printing was the UK firm Choc Edge, their
“Choc Creator” printer was launched in 2012. 3D Systems is also active in the chocolate
business, they announced a chocolate 3D printing cooperation with Hershey's in 2014. A
whole series of start-ups in chocolate printing has been revealed in the last few years, such
as Piq Chocolates, Chocobyte etc.
Sugar : The Sugar Lab was a Los Angeles start-up launched by an architect couple: Kyle
and Liz Von Hasseln in May 2013. In the fall of 2013 their small start-up was swooped
up by 3D Systems and became a part of a much bigger marketing machine. 3D Systems'
sugar printer Chefjet was presented on CES 2014, aimed at bakeries and restaurants. It can
print sugar decorations in color and different tastes like vanilla, chocolate, mint, sour apple,
cherry, watermelon etc.
Food : Various food is being 3D printed. It can be in the form of simple extrusion of pre-
pared mashed up food. Any food that can be formed into a paste-like or semi-liquid sub-
stance can be printed. Foodini is one example of such printing. It can also be more complex
3D printing such as “creation of meat”. Modern Meadow is a company that does experi-
ments in this field.