PancakeBot
This $300 PancakeBot is the world's first food printer capable of printing pancakes in any shape, according to its inventor.
Batter your desired image by uploading it to an SD card and inserting it into the PancakeBot.
The printer will then dispense the pancake batter onto a flat griddle in the shape of your image.
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Hear about the world's first pancake printer
The PancakeBot times the cooking of the batter to create the different shades of your image. The pressure, heat and speed controls can also be adjusted to refine complex designs into any desired shape.
Tamar Roth, resident engineer of Soda, a new retail brand launching the machine, said: "You can really make anything you want, as long as you can draw it, you can print it."
Invented by civil engineer Miguel Valenzuela, the first iteration of the PancakeBot was made out of Lego in 2013 for his daughters.
PancakeBot
After a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $460,584, the PancakeBot's design was honed into an entertaining kitchen gadget.
Go to CNBC International's Instagram Stories for a closer look at the PancakeBot.
The PancakeBot is a fascinating innovation in the culinary world, revolutionizing how we perceive and create pancakes. As an enthusiast deeply entrenched in the field of food technology and culinary advancements, let me break down the concepts involved in this marvel of engineering.
1. Food Printing Technology: The PancakeBot operates on the principles of food printing, a domain blending culinary artistry with technological innovation. It essentially functions as a printer, but instead of ink, it dispenses pancake batter onto a griddle to form specific shapes.
2. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) for Pancakes: To create custom pancake designs, users can upload images onto an SD card and insert it into the PancakeBot. This connects with the concept of CAD, typically used in engineering and design, adapted here for creating pancake patterns.
3. Precision Control: The device enables users to control various parameters like pressure, heat, and speed. These controls are pivotal in achieving intricate designs and various shades within the pancakes. This involves an understanding of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and material science to manipulate batter consistency and cooking times.
4. Engineering and Iterative Design: The PancakeBot's inception involved engineering expertise, as evidenced by its creator, Miguel Valenzuela, who initially crafted a prototype using Lego in 2013. This speaks volumes about the iterative design process, where the gadget evolved from a rudimentary model to its refined commercial version.
5. Crowd Funding and Commercialization: The successful Kickstarter campaign that amassed significant funding further emphasizes the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and consumer interest in innovative kitchen gadgets.
6. Culinary Creativity and Innovation: Tamar Roth's statement, "You can really make anything you want, as long as you can draw it, you can print it," underscores the creative potential this device unlocks in culinary arts.
In essence, the PancakeBot intertwines several disciplines, including engineering, culinary arts, computer science, and entrepreneurship, showcasing a fusion of technology and gastronomy to deliver a unique and entertaining kitchen appliance.
