Royal College of Art student make a 3D printer that focuses the light of the sun

Royal College of Art student make a 3D printer that focuses the light of the sun

(PhysOrg.com) -- 3D printing has been around for a few years. If you hooked it up to a solar panel you could make it work with the sun, but still would not be as cool as doing it the way that Markus Kayser, a MA student at the Royal College of Art, has gone about it. He has create a 3D printing machine that is able to focus the rays of the sun through a glass ball with enough intensity that it can create a beam that is able to heat silica sand to its melting point. Silica sand is often used in manufacturing process of heat resistant products for its high melting point.

The device, named the Solar Sinter, is based on a previous design known as the Sun-Cutter, which was able to cut two-dimensional shapes into thin sheets of plywood. Because of the imprecision of the tool it was only able to make relatively rough cuts, and there was a great deal of variation in functionality based on changes in the cloud cover.

Royal College of Art student make a 3D printer that focuses the light of the sun

This new 3D model gets is based on current designs of 3D with only two substitutions. The traditionally used resin or plastic powder has been replaced by the sand and the laser has been replaced by focused solar rays. The system, which is fully automated, then automatically creates a glass object out of the 3D designs, which represents a significant upgrade to the technology.

People who are interested in seeing the design first hand are able to see it while it is on show at the Royal College of Art graduate exhibition.

Royal College of Art student make a 3D printer that focuses the light of the sun

More information: www.markuskayser.com/

© 2010 PhysOrg.com

Citation: Royal College of Art student make a 3D printer that focuses the light of the sun (2011, June 27) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2011-06-royal-college-art-student-3d.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Waiting for a replacement part for your domestic appliance? Print your own

0 shares

Feedback to editors