Markus Kayser teaches us how to use sun and sand to create products in his SolveForX talk, Solar Sinter.
Markus gained fame in the past few years by creating a solar cutter – focusing sunlight through a small glass sphere and creating a beam to mimic laser cutting. On a trip to the Egyptian desert to cut sun shades out of plywood with his solar cutter, inspiration struck.
Bringing raw material to the desert to be processed was a waste when the desert itself can be treated as a resource. Sun and sand are plentiful, and should be used as the energy source and building material.
https://www.solveforx.com/moonshots/solar-sinter
The quest began to take the solar energy in the desert and combine it with the ever present sand to create objects. Taking the principles of 3d printing and heading out to his desert laboratory Markus began to test his theories and develop his machine.
The solar sinter focuses sunlight onto the sand using a large lens. A sun tracker follows the sun and moves the machine to keep the most intense energy on the sand. This setup allows for x and y axis movement while the machine base moves to create layers of printed sand. Two photovoltaic panels provide power for the machine and can charge the battery.
The footage here of the sand particles melting into their solid glassy state is incredible. You can hear the sound of the sand, cracking and hissing and my brain imagines a smell somewhere between a beach bonfire and burning popcorn. The first solar sintered object was a bowl, built from a two week testing trip.
https://www.solveforx.com/moonshots/solar-sinter
Markus ends his talk with the idea that because of the internet, anyone can do something like the solar sinter. As an industrial designer Kayser didn’t have previous experience with science and engineering projects. He was able to do research, rely on open source help, and create the machine while learning the processes and functions of the machine.
The future goal is to create several machines, and to print architecture and shelters directly onto the desert floor with large lenses.