Case Study: Cocoa Press achieves a consumer-ready 3D chocolate printer with Xometry

The First Commercial 3D Chocolate Printer

Cocoa Press, founded by Ellie Weinstein, set out to turn a high‑school 3D chocolate printer prototype into a consumer‑ready product but faced major mechanical and aesthetic challenges: the original plywood frame warped and flexed during printing, causing high failure rates, and the team lacked advanced in‑house sheet metal capabilities. They engaged Xometry for sheet metal fabrication and design-for-manufacturability support to build a stable, professional enclosure.

Xometry manufactured an Aluminum 5052 sheet‑metal frame with precise inserts and a black anodize finish, and provided engineering feedback and faster lead times. The rigid, accurately aligned frame from Xometry gave the printer a solid structural foundation that improved motion consistency and helped cut print failures from 50–75% to under 10%, while also delivering the finished look and food-safe assembly that moved Cocoa Press toward commercial readiness.

Cocoa Press

Ellie Weinstein

Founder