Precise temperature control for novel food production

NTC temperature sensors from Variosensor ensure accurate modelling of food in the Procusini 3D food printer

The Procusini 3.0 is a 3D food printer, recently launched in its third and revised generation with NTC temperature probes from Variohm EuroSensor. The manufacturer, Print2Taste GmbH, was founded in 2014 as a spin-off company of the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences in Freising. Aimed at catering professionals, event-gastronomy and hotels, as well as specialist bakery and confectionery producers, the complete Plug-and-Play system consists of a printer, a portfolio of printable foods, a template library and the world’s first fully integrated 3D food printing web platform. At its heart, exacting temperature control plays a crucial role in the shaping of customised small batch food items or individual text and decorative 3D objects.

The NTC temperature sensor from Variosensor is used as part of the Procusini‘s temperature control throughout the printing process. The foodstuffs are supplied in cartridges as solid materials and melted in the machine’s heating block by precise pre-set temperature regulation to maintain a constant temperature during printing. This process is fundamental to the Procusini 3D food printer, as the ideal combination of temperature and the various food formulas used ensures that the food is fluid and can be delivered through the print head. To maintain stability of the three-dimensional shape produced, the material assumes a solid consistency at room temperature.

Vario’s series II epoxy-clad NTC thermistors function as NTC resistor-based NTC thermistors, with resistance decreasing as temperature increases. Particularly suitable for temperature control and temperature measurement in electronic circuits, the thermistor accurately and proportionately tracks temperature variation. As part of its custom design service Variosensor modifies its standard NTC thermistors for Print2Taste GmbH by extending and isolating the lead wires. With a measuring range of -40 ° C to + 125 ° C, they operate in a wide and practical bandwidth for the food industry.

A dual print head version of the Procusini 3.0 has also been recently introduced by Print2Taste offering the possibility to produce two personalized food items at the same time. The dual version is also equipped with temperature sensors from Variohm EuroSensor as part of its core tasks. Both machine variants offer automatic operation for efficient production without high personnel costs. Self-developed or stored objects in the data library can be sent directly to the printer with the customer integrating the smart device in their own Wi-Fi network.