Ford, 3D Systems create chocolate, edible 3-D-printed 2015 Mustangs

L.A. Times ^ | February 13, 2014 | Salvador Rodriguez

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Ford has teamed up with 3D System to create tiny, chocolate versions of the new 2015 Mustang. The small, sugar-filled Mustangs are the first 3-D-printed cars that can be eaten, the companies claim.

3D Systems and Ford created the chocolaty confections as part of Valentine's Day-themed marketing for the 2015 Mustang, which was announced in December and will go on sale in late 2014.

http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-ford-3d-systems-chocolate-3dprinted-mustang-20140213,0,679923.story#ixzz2tGpBnMsO

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Probably have to buy a Mustang car to get the candy bar.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Ping

[txhurl]

I could no more eat a chocolate Mustang than an actual horse, having owned three of them (Stangs).

[null and void]

3-D Printer Ping!

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

You could probably find a kid to eat it for you.

[martin_fierro]

There’s a Hershey Highway joke in here somewhere.

[RoosterRedux]

It is this kind of thing that turned me against DDD as a potential investment. Too gimmicky.

[taxcontrol]

I understand what you are saying but consider what this can do for the baking / confectionary businesses. I can see custom creations and a revival of the small shop cake business.

[Silentgypsy]

Now, you’re talkin’!

[shove_it]

Get your sweetie a chocolate Stang for Valentine Day, while you're at it, get yourself the real thing...

[RoosterRedux]

Three D printing is an amazing technology, but I don't see any major revolutions coming from it the way I do, for example, machine 2 machine communications.

Cakes, confections, etc don't get me excited from an investment point of view. Neither does the consumer market for 3-D printers targeted by Stratasys in its purchase of Makerbot.

I remember when I went to a desktop computer shop when they were first on the market (early 80's). You could see that eventually everyone would have one as they became user friendly (I shot down a lot of alien invaders with my Apple 2e).

But I just don't see that with 3-D printers...it's more of a hobby/craft item than a world changer.

That said, if 3-D printing can start printing viable body parts and jet engine parts (like GE is doing) that are actually better, lighter, and stronger than drilled, pressed, and shaved metal down at the molecular level...it's a whole new ballgame.

[taxcontrol]

You have a valid point. There is a long way to go with 3D printing. Just like when the desktop PC first came out. It lacked a lot of features and was not very useful to the average home owner. But it did improve over time to the point now where most people cant do without one.

Will home owners get to that point with 3D prnters - I doubt it. However I can see it impacting a lot of small businesses.
- Autobody and mechanic shops printing the steel parts to replace broken ones
- Larger scale 3D printers printing the concrete walls for homes
- small architects / draftsmen / autocad shops able to print out sample models for customers
- custome cake decorating
- custom ceramics everything from machine parts to busts
- even production runs of small batches of parts to get a business of the ground (until larger scale injection molding is more affordable to the company)

I can even see uses in education with the teaching of computer science, physics, mechanical engineering, mathematics, etc. I believe it will turn out to be a “back office” type application where it will act as an enabler of small business.

But you are correct. Hard to get excited from a business investment vantage point.

[CSM]

“That said, if 3-D printing can start printing viable body parts..”

In this early stage of the technology, I am seeing a huge potential for protoyping parts. Imagine being able to build a small batch of parts, test them, make changes, test them again, make changes, etc. Yet, there is no need to a wood (or aluminum) tool! Hundreds of thousands of dollars could be saved in a single prototype build for an OEM.

That could very well lead to more customization of products that could still be subjected to mass production assy lines.....

[RoosterRedux]

Yup, it (the 3-D printing industry) will eventually be incredible if it shakes out as a producer of high quality products.

But my life depends on my investments...and 3-D printing is in the future.

I remember investing in some solid robotics stocks back in the 1980's. They never caught fire.

I am more practical now.

BTW, I also did a wee bit of venture capital banking back in the day...so I am inclined toward that kind of stuff.

Older and wiser now. I now look for stocks which are on the cusp of taking off.

I trade stocks (mostly etf's like "IBB"), selling at the high and buying again when they cycle down...but always in sectors that are headed upward.