The printer uses chocolate instead of ink.

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Chocolate lovers may soon be able to print their own 3D creations thanks to work by British scientists, BBC reports.

A 3D printer that prints layers of chocolate has been developed by University of Exeter researchers.

Lead scientist Liang Hao said that chocolate printing, just like any other 3D printing technique, starts with a flat cross-section image.

"And then you do a 3D shape - layer by layer, like if you were layering 2D paper to form a 3D shape," he said. Once a layer is completed, it solidifies, and the machine moves on to the next layer.

Getting the printing process right involves careful control of key parameters, such as temperature.

Once the prototype printer is perfected, it may find a role in the restaurant and food preparation industry.（点击英国广播公司网站查看原文）

3D巧克力打印机问世

       拜英国科学家所赐，巧克力迷们不久就可以打印出自创的三维巧克力了。

       据英国广播公司报道，艾克赛特大学研发的这款3D巧克力打印机可以打印出巧克力层。

       该研究负责人梁皓（音译）博士表示，用巧克力打印和其它3D打印技术一样，都是先从打印平断面图开始。

       “之后就一层一层的形成3D结构，就如同是将2D图像堆砌成3D的一样。一层打印好了便会凝固，机器就开始打印下一层。”

       因此要保障打印顺利进行，就必须小心控制温度等关键参数。

       一旦该雏形发展成熟，它就可以在餐饮和食品制作领域发挥作用。

(China.org.cn July 11, 2011)