This art project by Markus Kayser isn't meant to replace today's energy and labor intensive manufacturing any time soon. It's a concept piece. Kayser uses the strong sun in the Sahara Desert to melt sand into layers of glass. Watch the video in the right-hand window to see the process unfold. This takes DIY to a whole new level while making a point about the future of solar energy and 3D printing. As an aside, 3d printing will probably be one of the most disruptive technologies that no one in the main stream media is even talking about yet. A 3D printer has the capability of creating any shape, like Kayser's finished sculptures and bowls, or even bicycles.
According to Lori Zimmer at Inhabitat: Kayser's Solar Sinter is made up of seven stations: a photovoltaic panel, the focal point which draws the sun's rays on the melting sand, a sun tracker, fresnel lens (for magnifying the rays), a battery, controlling electronics, and finally a small, reflective, silver tent dubbed the "office," where Kayser can shield himself from the hot sun.
