Some people dream of having their face up in lights; others have slightly sweeter visions. For those folk, now’s your chance! Thanks to the ChocoForm, you can have your face in chocolate.
Jason Lee, a mechanical engineering student at Northeastern University, is putting his “extensive experience in rapid prototyping” to, shall we say, delicious use. Lee has come up with a process to 3D print chocolates: the ChocoForm Kickstarter project is now running.
Starting with a high-contrast photo, the ChocoForm has a simply-outlined four-step process:
- Convert an image to a 3D model based on contrast
- Print 3D model
- Vacuum form a negative
- Cast in chocolate!
The 3D model, or lithoform, of the photo serves both as a preview of a chocolate mold and as an interesting ornament in its own right. Held up to the light, the contrast from the original image is really highlighted. And let’s be honest: in this age of the selfie, who doesn’t like to see really neat photos of themselves?
Keeping the lithoform to the side as a neat souvenir now that it’s served its purpose as the model for the mold, the next step involves the vacuum formed negative. Once the mold is there, it’s used as the template to cast chocolate in and hey: you’re in chocolate! ChocoForm works well with results in whatever your sweet tooth prefers: white chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate.
Not really looking to bite your own head off? The ChocoForm has applications across the board! From company logos cast in chocolate to personalized wedding favors to Han Solo cast in carbonite (in chocolate), ChocoForm has all your custom chocolate needs covered. Mold designs can also be found via Thingiverse.
The Kickstarter campaign, which runs through December 2, is looking to raise $10,000. One of Lee’s biggest promises to potential backers is that he will get chocolate rewards shipped out in time for the holiday season; as soon as 75% of the goal is reached, Lee plans to start stocking up on his material needs to ensure delays can all be worked out. He stands by his intention pretty firmly: “I will NOT miss shipping these in time for the holidays,” he promises.
Backers can get anywhere between a hearty thank you wish (for a $1+ pledge) to a full-on Wedding Package including 100 chocolate prints (and the 3D print) of their photo (for a $499+ pledge). One reward that stands out is for a $59+ pledge: the DIY chocolate reward grants the backer their 3D printed image as well as 3 mold sheets to cast their own chocolates.
Are you going to back this interesting Kickstarter project? Discuss in the ChocoForm forum thread on 3DPB.com.
