Amigo,
that kiln or oven is specially intended for glass melting other ceramic works. It's in a local art school. The oven can be heated up to 3000 degree celsius, I think this should be enough to melt some sand (silica melting point is about 1600 degree). The hardest part would be to modify the oven so that I can lover a semiconductor bead in the "hot" zone and then slowly pull it up. I don't think that they will allow me to drill a hole in the lid.
I must inspect that oven a little more.
I also think, that this is turning in one great discussion
Me like alot