Operation
The Dishmaker uses a shape-memory property of acrylic to make the dishes, which allows them to be reused over and over again (Torrone 2007). The machine takes up the same space as a regular dishwasher and uses less energy. It has the ability to make many dishes, so it is even useful when hosting guests. The Dishmaker also eliminates the need for cupboards, because all of the dishes are stored inside of it as flat discs of acrylic. When a certain dish is needed, a user interface much like that of a microwave is used. The cook just selects the number of cups, plates, or bowls needed and then out comes the dishes. A single dish can be made in just 90 seconds, and the Dishmaker can hold up to 150 dishes (Wired News 2005).
The dishes are made through a relatively simple process. They start out just as acrylic discs. When the user selects the type of dish they want, a computer tells the machine and it heats the acrylic into that shape. The material cools quickly and, of course, is safe for eating. When done, the user simply puts the dishes back into the machine and the reverse of the dish-making process takes place. The acrylic is heated to about 300 °F (149 °C) and formed back into its 6-inch-diameter (150 mm) disc (Wired News 2005).
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