Amazing Solar-Powered 3D Printer Showcased at the London Design Festival

<a href="http://www.markuskayser.com/">Markus Kayser's brilliant solar-powered 3D printer</a> works using two natural resources from the world's deserts that are in no jeopardy of being used up any time soon: sun and sand. The printer beams the sun's rays onto sand, which is then transformed into fascinating glass objects of an almost unlimited variety. We previously brought you a few images of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/the-solar-powered-sinter-3d-printer-turns-desert-sand-into-glass/">3D printer being tested in Egypt</a>, but today we snapped a few close-ups of the homegrown machine at the <a href="http://www.londondesignfestival.com/">London Design Festival</a>, where the Solar Sinter is proudly displayed at the Royal College of Art - <a href="http://www.markuskayser.com/">Markus Kayser's</a> alma mater.

The new images show details of this incredible machine's minimalist parts: a fresnel lens that concentrates the solar beams, a couple of small <a href="http://inhabitat.com/breaking-solar-power-breakthrough-could-render-solar-cells-obsolete/">photovoltaic panels</a>, an electric box/battery covered in aluminum foil, and a sun tracker.

On the tray where the sun is beamed across the sand is an interesting silica sculpture ostensibly left over from Kayser's last desert adventure.

Kayser has expressed an interest in developing this technology to such an extent that it could be used to create <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/sustainable-construction/">sustainable construction materials</a> for future buildings.

If you're in the city checking out the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/gigantic-timber-wave-installation-welcomes-the-london-design-festival-to-va/">London Design Festival</a>, we highly recommend a trip over to the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/sustain-7-exciting-green-designs-from-the-royal-college-of-art-at-the-london-design-festival/">Royal College of Art's SUSTAIN exhibit</a> to catch a glimpse of this award-winning design.

These glass objects are remarkably durable.

On another table a bowl is displayed along with a plate.

The device is currently on display at Kayser's alma mater - the Royal College of Art - as part of the 2011 London Design Festival.

This project's reliance on only sun and sand gives it an incredible design edge.

These natural resources that is not in jeopardy of being used up any time soon!