We couldn’t believe our eyes – or nose rather – when we caught drift that MakerBot Industries has been developing a specialty 3D printer that prints different scents at the press of a button. Aptly named the SmellBot 4D Printer, the mysterious device has the ability to combine various scent particles to create familiar, brand new, and even downright repulsive smells with its unique “ExtrOdor†hardware. Designers can pick from a library of commonly found aromas, such as pineapple or buttered waffles, or create entirely new ones without any prior experience with advanced software.
The SmellBot doesn’t require regular spools of filament like a traditional FDM printer, although it still uses a similar additive process. While still under wraps, we’re told the mechanism for layering scents is something MakerBot’s creative lab has been tackling for years now. It doesn't print anything physical, and that's perhaps the most intriguing part.
“We think that by combining the power of SmellBot with other emerging applications, such as smart TVs, users will soon experience content from around the world in a way never before possible,†says MakerBot CEO Jonathan Jaglom. “The possibilities are truly endless, and MakerBot cannot be more excited to pave the way for 4D Printing. You can really smell it… and that’s something worth striving for.â€
We’re not exactly sure why MakerBot thought it would be a good idea to print scents, but we can’t wait to smell something other than burning plastic emitting from our desktops. The SmellBot has no set launch date, but we’ll keep you informed as we learn more.
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