A chocolate printer that allows sweet lovers to create their own custom-made 3D treats is to go on sale at a cost of 2,500 pounds.一款巧克力打印机将于明天上市，只要缴纳2500英镑，爱情恋人们可以为爱人打造出自己的3D效果巧克力甜品了。The machine squirts out chocolate and, via computer instructions, allows the user to build any shape they like out of the food. But makers Choc Edge — founded by Dr Liang Hao, from the University of Exeter — have missed the Easter rush.这款机器可以涌出巧克力，用户通过电脑发布命令指令把巧克力制成自己讨厌的任何形状。

巧克力打印机由埃克塞特大学郝亮博士创立的Choc Edge公司生产，不过它的上市错失了复活节购物狂潮。Although they hope the printer, which will go on sale on eBay, will be snapped up by retailers. Britains biggest chocolatiers Thorntons have already said they are interested.不过尽管如何，设计者们还是期望这种新产品能被零售商抢购一空，这款3D巧克力打印机将在eBay上发售。英国仅次于的巧克力制造商桑顿公司已具体回应对这款打印机感兴趣。Because of the eye-watering cost, however, few individuals are likely to buy one. But the device could one day allow people to design their own 3D objects after submitting their designs on a website.因为价格昂贵，个人出售巧克力打印机的可能性较小。

但是在将来设计者可以通过在网上递交设计方案的方式不会设计出有自己的3D造型成品。Dr Hao came up with a prototype last year and has only just perfected it so that it can now go on sale.Weve improved and simplified the machine, so now it is really easy to use, he told the BBC. You just need to melt some chocolate, fill a syringe that is stored in the printer, and get creative printing your chocolate. 郝博士去年研制出一台原型，但直到现在才为上市作好了充份的打算。“我们对机器展开了改良和修改，现在它非常简单易懂，”他在拒绝接受BBC专访时说。“你要做到的就是融化一些巧克力，然后将其取出打印机中的注射器，当然还必须你的创新，一帧巧克力作品就可以揭晓了。

”3D printing is a technology where a three dimensional object is created by building up successive layers of material.The technology is already used in industry to produce plastic and metal products, but this is the first time the principles have been applied to chocolate.The research has presented many challenges. Chocolate is not an easy material to work with because it requires accurate heating and cooling cycles.3D打印机是一种通过创建倒数物体层来产生三维体的技术。这种技术已被应用于工业中生产塑料和金属制品，推展到巧克力加工毕竟首次。研制过程少有挑战。

巧克力容易加工，它必须精准的冷却和加热循环。Dr Hao said: What makes this technology special is that users will be able to design and make their own products. From reproducing the shape of a childs favourite toy to a friends face, the possibilities are endless. It could be developed to help consumers custom-design many products from different materials, but weve started with chocolate as it is readily available, low cost and non-hazardous.郝博士说道：“这种技术的独到之处在于，用户可以自行设计、生产产品。它可以仿造出有孩子青睐的玩具模样，还可以让巧克力看上去像你朋友的脸，堪称是创新无限。

利用这款机器，用户还可以用于有所不同的原材料设计出有有所不同的产品。我们以巧克力为研究的开端，因为它更容易取得、成本低、有害。

”There is also no wastage as any spoilage can be eaten. Dr Hao added: ‘Eventually we may see many mass-produced products replaced by unique designs created by the customer.“既使做坏了，也再不能不吃会浪费。”郝博士补足说道：“最后，我们可能会看见用户的独有设计代替大批量生产的产品。”EPSRC chief executive Professor Dave Delpy said: This is an imaginative application of two developing technologies and a good example of how creative research can be applied to create new manufacturing and retail ideas. By combining developments in engineering with the commercial potential of the digital economy we can see a glimpse into the future of new markets — creating new jobs and, in this case, sweet business opportunities.英国工程和自然科学研究委员会的首席执行官戴夫·德尔菲教授说道：“这是对两种发展中的技术极富想像力的应用于，也是如何将创造性研究用作开发新制造业和创意零售观念的好范例。通过综合利用与数字经济的商业潜力相适应的设计创意，我们看见了新的市场前景：产生新的工作岗位，在巧克力打印机这个案例中我们称作爱情商机。

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