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FOODres.AI Printer
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FOODres.AI Printer - Desktop pallet 3D printer transforming organic waste into creative crafts
iF Design Award 2025 Winner
https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/foodresai-printer/703903
2024.7
Yiqing Wang, Biru Cao
Digital Fabrication, 3D Print
The FOODres.AI Printer is a desktop pallet 3D printer that transforms food scraps and organic waste into creative crafts. The machine and app use AI to sort materials through the phone camera based on printable recipes. Users can simply drop in food waste and select forms and sizes to print objects such as cup holders, coasters, decor, and custom designs. The FOODres.AI Printer embodies FOODres.AI’s vision of promoting real-time food-saving. This product goes beyond recycling food waste and actively engaging communities in eco-friendly practices on a daily basis by combining recycling with design.
3D printer mock-up
Idea
The project originated from the team’s research supported by the MIT IDEAS program. In the United States, 40-50% of household food is wasted. Before being discarded into landfills or composted, non-edible leftovers and organic waste can still be turned into useful, creative, and fun items. The FOODres.AI Printer, powered by AI, enables home users to access bio-based material printing without professional expertise. It transforms the challenge of upcycling food into an engaging, hands-on activity. Creativity and sustainability come together in the product, resulting in unique, shareable crafts.
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Idea
Design
The system integrates computer vision and a self-trained object detection model to identify food types and assess material printability. To reach a wider audience, the machine is equipped with a material processing system that assists users in creating a printable mixture. With its translucent shell and visible internal structure, users can observe the entire printing process. The design features only two openings: one for waste drop-off and another for retrieving finished 3D-printed objects. Its straightforward design and minimal control panel make it accessible to everyone.
Printer's details
The machine is built for food scrap pallet printing with a simple click and run. After the computer vision system in the app tells users what materials and how much can be collected for a printing job, users can drop off the pieces into the dump portal. Then, the machine will blend them and mix them with admixtures to create bioplastics that are good for 3D printing. The printer uses a 3-axes system and allows both per-designed models and customized tool paths defined by users. The extruder is designed to refill the material automatically with heating.
Printing process
Mobile Application
The FOODres.AI Printer offers a library of ready-to-print designs, making it easy for users to convert waste into useful or decorative items they enjoy. The simple and intuitive interface guides users through detecting printing materials, selecting forms and sizes, ensuring usability even for beginners with no 3D printing experience. It also supports customization options. Users can create objects in different shapes and colors by adding different materials, assisted by AI to adjust the mix during printing. This flexibility caters to users of all experience levels, making the FOODres.AI Printer accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
User interface
It provides an innovative way to address the environmental impact of upcycling. The AI-powered app provides an accessible way for users to engage in sustainable practices. Beyond recycling, this product fosters a sustainability mindset, giving users a creative and interactive way to contribute to waste reduction. It builds a community-focused culture of sustainability, allowing users to participate in eco-friendly practices actively.
Creative community
From waste to crafts