3D printing for vending machines coming soon?

Published March 9, 2013 12:19pm

In the near future, vending machines may no longer just dispense food items, tickets and phone cards – if 3D-printing technology makes its way to vending machines.

That concept may no longer be as far-fetched with the Dreambox, a vending machine that uses 3D printing to produce almost anything.

“Having an item 3D printed with a Dreambox is as simple as uploading or choosing a design online, clicking the ‘Print’ button and retrieving the item once it’s ready,” Discovery News quoted creators David Pastewka, Ricard Berwick and Will Drevno as saying.

With the machine, users can upload designs via a USB flash drive. Users may also select a design from a catalog or use apps to customize a model.

An item is then sent to the nearest Dreambox and added to the queue. The printed item is then dispensed into a private locker within the machine.

"The customer is then alerted via text that their creation is ready for pick-up. The text also includes a unique code to open the locker," Discovery News said.

Pastewka, Berwick and Drevno met in a mobile application development class and competition at the University of California, Berkeley.

Discovery News said the three thought of a 3D-printing vending machine due to the lack of accessible, on-campus 3D-printing options.

Also, they were frustrated over the lead time for online 3D-printing services, which may take up to four weeks. Dreambox's creators want to give their alma mater’s campus a machine soonest. But Discovery News said it remains to be seen if the Dreambox can offset the long-term cost of in-home 3D printers. – KDM, GMA News

Tags: 3dprinting, vendingmahcines, dreambox