It seems like people are using 3D printing for just about anything these days…….and that is a very good thing. From art to dentistry and all things in-between, 3D printing has allowed people without engineering expertise or special equipment to be truly innovative in their fields.
Just the other day we ran across a really unique and creative use of 3D printing……..The Pancakebot! As the name suggests, it lets you 3D print custom-shaped pancakes. Fun and delicious! Pancakebot started as a project that Miguel Valenzuela tinkered with for his young daughters using LEGO Mindstorms. There is a great video on the website that shows Pancakebot in action!
All fun aside though, this is just one example of how 3D printing and the Maker movement as a whole is innovating how we think about making anything. The idea of printing pancakes may seem simple and silly, but it just takes small ideas like that to get people excited about what is really possible. Besides, can you just imagine sitting down to breakfast at Disneyland and having a Pancakebot roll up to your table to custom print any character you can imagine? Even if Pancakebot doesn’t become a mainstream kitchen staple, it is still an amazing use of the technology, and also one that can engage and inspire kids toward STEM and STEAM education. If that’s all something like Pancakebot does, then I would consider that a big win.
