Skylights & 3D printing:
How Sunsquare pushes the boundaries of design

Innovative Skylight Design

As proud market leaders in the design and manufacture of flat roof skylights, at Sunsquare we never rest on our laurels. We’re always looking for better, more efficient ways to give our clients the best possible skylights and rooflights as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Sunsquare’s technical manager, Wojciech Kobylecki is heavily involved with the production of our BSI Kitemarked flat rooflights. His team take any skylight order from design to manufacture, aided by the very latest in production and design software.

Just recently, Wojciech was recognised by the pinnacle of the design profession, securing certification as a “professional” of the SolidWorks team – of which there are only 4,000 on the planet. The SolidWorks design software we use at Sunsquare is recognised for its excellence across the world.

3D printing for the future

In order to model our skylights and ensure that every bespoke contract that we take on can be designed and viewed in 3D, Wojciech and his team utilise the design software and our 3D printing capabilities to give us a physical form to our ideas.

“Today’s low-cost 3D printing is a great opportunity for us, as technical design professionals, to put our ideas into practice,” said Wojciech.

“We don’t need a tool that is easy-to-use or elegant in order to show off to our friends; we just need it to do what we need it to do, as rapidly, reliably and efficiently as possible.”

We invested in the MakerBot Replicator 5th Generation 3D printer to give us the ability to create a clean, consolidated product design and test new design concepts without having to move from our desks.

A cost-effective means of testing concepts and prototypes

Desktop 3D printing is still a relatively new technology, but to design-led companies such as ours, where our entire business and reputation is reliant on our ability to design and manufacture effective, stunning products, it’s technology we desperately need to develop our latest projects and concepts as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.

The large build volume of the MakerBot accelerates rapid prototyping and model making, allowing Wojciech and his team to make true-to-life objects with ease.

The MakerBot Replicator 5th Generation 3D printer is optimised to print in PLA filament (polylactide), which is entirely biodegradable thermoplastic aliphatic polyester, derived from renewable resources such as sugarcane. So yes, we do care very much about the impact of our business operations on the wider environment!

Every new skylight we bring to market is designed this way to give us complete confidence that the designs work before we commit to factory time and materials; transforming efficiencies within our design and manufacture processes.

It’s this forward-thinking approach to skylights and 3D printing, which has served us so well in our decade of existence; and why we remain world leaders for stylish, contemporary roof windows that break the mould for safety standards and add real value to properties.