We are going to make a Solar Bread Oven!
I have done some initial research. Please continue along this path.

http://www.pathtofreedom.com
http://www.re-energy.ca
http://solarcooking.org/images/hflame1.jpg

Two of my favourites:
http://solarcooking.org
http://solarcooking.org

 

Sounds really interesting and like a lot of fun...
What direction do you want to go?
Is it to use for a special cause or for manufacturing like a kit or what is it?
Should it be portable?
easy to build? or?

At the moment I don't really have the space to start making prototypes but maybe later on when we hopefully find a place to live that is not a Hostel... :-)

 
 

Thanks for the response and great questions.
I am so happy that you ask these! A true designer you are! Ok, so I’m in an "exploration" phase of making these ovens.

My goal are:
To make a lo-fi, DIY version that anyone can build and is thought of as a possible renewable energy product. This one could be made from old computer boxes/post consumer waste, aluminum foil from people's finished burritos (by the way have you had a Mission burrito yet?)
-This could be a kit with a pattern that people could refer to or print out online with a suggested materials list
-Portable is key!
-Easy to build is a bonus

 

Who are the low-end and the high-end target group?
What are their needs? Why do they want to use this?
When are they going to use it? Scenarios... How big should it be?
What is the perfect form for using the solar energy? Angels?
What surface reflects the best?
What black material transfers the heat the best?Cheap isolation?
Should the manual for building be on the internet - do the low end users haveaccess? Should it be on the boxes at the store?
Packaging - Could we do without buyingglue and paint?
In Scandinavia we have a saying: "less ismore" - but is that just a Scandinavian thing? Would America believethis as well?
My picture of America (so far) is "the bigger/more the better" - isthat the way to go? might be - might not... Why more when you can do with less?

 

 

Super good questions
Here are some answers:

Who are the low-end and the high-end target group?
A third world village without access to fancy tools or paint, but lots of sun.

High-end are urban dwellers who are unconscious of the amount of energy they waste using electric and gas ovens and that they could bake in their windows or on their roofs. This version should be very stylized, but simple. The message could be something like, the future can be beautiful and efficient.  It could be a version that is built into a window. Like a window box garden, but instead a solar oven.

What are their needs?
Low end needs: cheap, useful oven. Gives them time to do other  things while the sun does the work. There is no smoke or use of wood, so it is efficient.
High end: fast, efficient, easy, and pretty to look at.

Why do they want to use this?
Low end: Gives them time to do other things.
Previously villagers had to sit near the fire to make sure the bread did not burn and also inhaled toxic fumes. So now they can work elsewehre exhaust free and the bread will never burn.

High end: They want to be more ecological.

When are they going to use it? Scenarios...
Low end: always
High-end: always, maybe there is a portable/collapsable version for camping or just because they like the idea of it collapsing and they can put it away in winter when there is no sun.

How big should it be?
I think i described scenarios above that will help with this

What is the perfect form for using the solar energy? Angels?
Parabola's seem best. Less angles more efficient...
There are some excellent designs online that we can work from

What surface reflects the best?
Flat and aluminum or some sort of shiny metal

What black material transfers the heat the best?
So far most models use black paint, but lets explore

Should the manual for building be on the internet?
Yes, manual online, free and open source, so people who use ours can write about their experience and make design suggestions.

Could we do without buying glue and paint?
Let's explore.  Less is more!

What size? For how many people?
Size small to medium. Something that can be carried on one's back.
2-4 people is fine.