Printhoek 3D

Printhoek 3D Printhoek 3D is a service bureau specialized in CAD Design, 3D Printing & Scanning. Welcome to Windhoek, Namibia's 3D Printing Corner.

Call or Whatsapp us:

Romar Rañola Quitasol - Founder and Maker
B.Tech Mechanical Engineer
Mobile: +264 81 2898 147
https://www.printhoek3d.com/

A VW Tiguan DSG shifter was being installed into a race car that originally had a manual setup.The two vehicles did not ...
08/09/2026

A VW Tiguan DSG shifter was being installed into a race car that originally had a manual setup.

The two vehicles did not share the same mounting arrangement, so the shifter could not simply be placed into the available space.

We 3D scanned the DSG unit and the mounting area in the race car to capture both sides of the interface. That data allowed us to design a custom plate around the existing mounting points, while providing the position and clearance required by the automatic shifter.

The adapter did not perform the gearbox conversion. Its role was to create the mechanical connection needed to mount the DSG shifter securely within the new vehicle.

A once-off component will not always be cheaper than a standard product. Its value comes from solving a problem that sta...
06/09/2026

A once-off component will not always be cheaper than a standard product. Its value comes from solving a problem that standard products cannot.

The client’s bicycle, saddlebag and rear light created a unique arrangement. The light worked, but its standard mounting position left it obstructed from traffic behind the rider.

Rather than replacing components and hoping another combination would fit, the client chose to have a bracket designed specifically for the existing setup.

The finished ASA bracket repositioned the light beyond the bag while retaining the bicycle, saddlebag and rear light already in use.

Custom manufacturing makes sense when the cost of the solution is justified by how precisely it resolves the actual problem.

The custom bracket was designed to work with the bicycle’s existing rear light and mounting hardware.After printing, the...
04/09/2026

The custom bracket was designed to work with the bicycle’s existing rear light and mounting hardware.

After printing, the separate ASA components had to be checked against the original light interface and assembled in the correct orientation.

The extended arm was then fitted beneath the saddle, while the original rear light attached at the opposite end. This moved the light beyond the saddlebag without requiring changes to the light itself.

The result depended on each interface working together: the saddle mounting points, printed arm, attachment component and existing light.

The saddlebag was blocking the bicycle’s rear light from traffic behind the rider.To reposition it properly, we needed m...
01/09/2026

The saddlebag was blocking the bicycle’s rear light from traffic behind the rider.

To reposition it properly, we needed more than the dimensions of the original mounting point. We 3D scanned the saddle and bag together so the new bracket could be designed around the client’s complete setup.

The scan data showed the available mounting space, the obstruction created by the bag and how far the light needed to be extended.

This allowed us to create a customised bracket that retained the existing light while moving it into a more visible position.

A specialised component can be expensive to buy without being difficult to manufacture.For this project, the client was ...
30/08/2026

A specialised component can be expensive to buy without being difficult to manufacture.

For this project, the client was struggling to source the original lymphatic-system component easily or affordably.

Once the geometry had been measured and reconstructed, resin printing allowed the component to be produced locally in batches. The client accepted the result and could obtain multiple replacements at a lower cost.

Local manufacturing does not replace every specialised supply chain. But when the geometry, material and performance requirements are suitable, it can make low-volume components more accessible.

28/08/2026

3D printing does not end when the build is removed from the printer.

These lymphatic-system components were produced in a batch with support structures holding the small geometry during printing.

After production, each component had to be separated and the supports removed carefully. The process requires controlled handling around the smaller features to avoid damaging the part during finishing.

This post-processing stage turns the supported resin prints into individual components ready for final inspection.

Not every reverse-engineering project requires 3D scanning.For this lymphatic-system component, the original geometry wa...
25/08/2026

Not every reverse-engineering project requires 3D scanning.

For this lymphatic-system component, the original geometry was simple enough to measure accurately by hand. We used those measurements to rebuild the internal form, external profile and connection features in CAD.

The component was also small and required fine detail, which made resin printing the more suitable manufacturing process.

The tools were selected around what the component required: manual measurement for straightforward geometry, CAD for controlled reconstruction and resin printing for resolution.

The correct process is not always the most complicated one. It is the one that meets the specification without adding unnecessary time or cost.

Not every incompatible component needs to be replaced.The paddle latch was already suitable for the custom trailer. The ...
23/08/2026

Not every incompatible component needs to be replaced.

The paddle latch was already suitable for the custom trailer. The problem existed at the interface between the purchased mechanism and the trailer’s thin panel.

Instead of redesigning the surrounding structure or replacing the latch, we adapted the connection between them. The printed riser established the required position, while the smaller adapters preserved the movement between the exterior lever and internal mechanism.

Sometimes the most effective solution is not a completely new product. It is a carefully designed interface that allows existing products to work together.

21/08/2026

The adapter could not be designed as an isolated spacer.

The purchased latch, trailer panel, exterior lever and internal locking mechanism had to be evaluated as one moving assembly.

In CAD, we positioned the existing hardware first and then designed the printed components around its mounting points and required movement. The transparent assembly views helped us check how the riser, lever extension and internal actuator adapter interacted across the panel gap.

This allowed the retrofit to be checked as a complete mechanism before manufacturing the parts.

The purchased latch could not operate across the gap created by the custom trailer’s thin panel.Mounting it in position ...
18/08/2026

The purchased latch could not operate across the gap created by the custom trailer’s thin panel.

Mounting it in position was only part of the requirement. The exterior lever still needed to transfer enough movement to activate the internal locking mechanism.

We designed a printed riser to support the latch and separate adapters to extend its movement across the gap. The mounting points, panel position and required actuator travel determined the final geometry.

A retrofit works when it preserves the function of the original product while making it compatible with a structure it was never designed to fit.

Address

Corner Of Faraday & Julius K Nyerere Street
Windhoek

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 16:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 16:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 16:00
Thursday 08:00 - 16:00
Friday 08:00 - 16:00

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Printhoek 3D posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Printhoek 3D:

Shortcuts

Share