The CandyFab 4000, 5000, and 6000 were three early DIY 3D printers that we built in the years 2006 through 2009. They worked by using hot air to selectively melt and fuse granulated media, and were capable of producing large, complex objects out of pure sugar, amongst other things.
CandyFab is no longer an active project — it hasn’t been for a few years. But the time has come to retire it officially and document its history. We have taken some time to write an in-depth article about the history of the CandyFab project, the different CandyFab machines, why and how they were built, what they were capable of, and the lessons that we learned in the process. Have a seat; we have a story to tell.
The CandyFab Project: 3D Printing in Sugar. Big, DIY, and on the cheap. 2006 — 2009.
Link: candyfab.org
I still like the idea of 3-d printed edible objects. Candyfab was neat, though. (I still have it bookmarked, and looked in from time to time.)
Woohoo – long live CandyFab! I remember this was definitely one of the highlights of my first Maker Faire, which must have been 2007 or so.
This was such a glorious artefact in the annals of 3D printing that it really deserves to be on display somewhere. It may not have made it into a commercial product, but that does not make it a failure – it will always have a sweet spot in our hearts! Hm, is there anything anything like the Computer History Museum, but for 3D printers? Too soon?
I hope you still occasionally dust off the old CandyFab 4000 or 6000 for nostalgia’s sake. I really don’t care how much better resolution the new ChefJet is able to achieve; there’s just something majestic about that big screw, or the toroidal coil – fat pixels and all.
The CandyFab and the interactive LED dining table were the first things I remember about your blog. I was amazed by both and have been a loyal regular reader since then. It has been quite a number of years now :)
Someday I might be able to visit the Bay Area and I hope to include a trip to your shop then as well, to experience live the joy of creating you’ve portrayed so skillfully in this blog.
(I actually am quite near this year, having one free day to spend in SF and thought about visiting the Exploratorium, of which I know from your coverage in this very blog)
Thanks for all this good work and inspiration!