Our Medical Portfolio

Custom medical and orthotic solutions developed through 3D scanning, CAD design and additive manufacturing. Each project is shaped by the user’s anatomy, functional requirements and guidance from the relevant medical professionals.

Medical & Orthotic Projects

CUSTOM RUGBY FACE MASK

CUSTOM PROSTHETIC LEG COVER

CUSTOM ORTHOTIC HAND BRACE

Modular Orthotic Support

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Discuss a Medical or Orthotic Project

We collaborate with clients and medical professionals to develop customised prosthetic, orthotic and medical-support components. Contact us to discuss the application, required fit and available reference data.

Custom Rugby Face Mask — Protective Innovation in Sports Orthotics

Client: Pieter-Jan Strydom
Industry: Medical & Sports Rehabilitation
Service: 3D Scanning • Digital Design • Custom Orthotic Fabrication

Project Overview

Ahead of the 2023 Craven Week Rugby Tournament and the Namibian National Rugby Games, Printhoek 3D was approached to develop a custom facial orthotic mask for young rugby player Pieter-Jan Strydom.

Following a skull injury, his maxillofacial specialist recommended protective facial support to allow him to safely return to play. Working closely with both the doctor and the client’s family, our team captured precise 3D facial scans and used the data to design a custom-fitted protective mask that met the doctor’s criteria for coverage, comfort, and impact resistance.

The final design was 3D printed in a carbon-fiber composite for strength and lightweight performance, with a soft internal lining for comfort and flexible straps for secure fitment. Two identical masks were produced one primary and one backup both successfully used throughout his recovery and competition period.


Highlights

  • 3D facial scanning and data-driven orthotic design

  • Doctor-approved medical fit for protective use during sports

  • Carbon-fiber composite fabrication for strength and flexibility

  • Dual-mask production ensuring uninterrupted athletic use

  • Custom comfort lining and flexible strap integration


Impact

This project highlights how digital design and additive manufacturing can be applied beyond industrial and engineering contexts delivering personalized, medically guided protection for athletes.
Through precision scanning, collaborative design, and advanced materials, Printhoek 3D enabled safe, confident performance for a young player returning to competitive rugby.

Custom Prosthetic Leg Cover — Confidence Through Design

Client: Tanya Liebenberg
Industry: Medical & Lifestyle Design
Service: Metrology-Grade 3D Scanning • Product Design • Additive Manufacturing

 Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned by Tanya Liebenberg to create a custom prosthetic leg cover that would enhance both the aesthetic appeal.

Using metrology-grade 3D scanning, our team captured precise measurements of the prosthetic leg to design a lightweight, form-fitting cover that improves the visual silhouette under clothing and provides a more natural appearance in motion.

Inspired by the design approach of the Spanish company UNYQ, known for their stylish and functional prosthetic covers, we developed a two-part magnetic design. One half was fixed to the prosthesis, while the other attached magnetically using neodymium magnets for easy removal and maintenance.

The first prototype was printed in cyan blue, followed by a second iteration incorporating a custom patterned surface as requested by the client balancing durability, design expression, and personal comfort.


Highlights

  • Metrology-grade 3D scanning for accurate data capture and custom design

  • Magnetic two-part assembly using neodymium magnets 

  • Lightweight 3D-printed cover customized for daily wear

  • Aesthetic pattern design for personalization

  • Iterative prototyping process incorporating client feedback


Impact

This project showcases how 3D technology can merge functionality and self-expression in prosthetic and aesthetic design.
By applying precision scanning, advanced materials, and human-centered design, Printhoek 3D helped Tanya Liebenberg achieve a prosthetic cover that reflects individuality and confidence – a perfect blend of engineering and empathy.

Custom Orthotic Hand Brace - Personalized Medical Support Through 3D Technology

Client: Private Medical Case (via Occupational Therapy Consultation)
Industry: Medical orthotics & Rehabilitation
Service: 3D Scanning • Digital Modelling • Custom Orthotic Fabrication

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned to develop a custom orthotic hand brace for a stroke rehabilitation case, where the client had lost mobility in one hand due to paralysis. The challenge was to create a brace that would hold the hand in a therapeutically correct position, as recommended by the attending occupational therapist.

Our team used 3D scanning technology to capture precise anatomical data from the functional opposite hand and forearm, which was then digitally mirrored to design a corrective brace aligned with the patient’s unique physiology. The digital model was refined in consultation with the therapist and then fabricated in-house via 3D printing, ensuring both fit accuracy and comfort.


Highlights

  • High-accuracy 3D scanning for anatomical data capture

  • Digital mirroring of the healthy hand for structural accuracy

  • Collaboration with medical professionals to ensure therapeutic correctness

  • Custom 3D-printed brace produced in-house for rehabilitation use

  • Lightweight and ergonomic design tailored to patient comfort


Impact

This project demonstrates how 3D printing and scanning technologies can extend beyond industrial use offering personalized healthcare solutions that enhance rehabilitation outcomes.
By merging digital precision with medical collaboration, Printhoek 3D delivered a fully customized orthotic brace that supports mobility, recovery, and comfort for the client

Modular Orthotic Support - Rigid Shell with Flexible TPU Interface

Client: Private Medical Case
Industry: Medical / Orthotics
Service: Orthotic Product Development • CAD Design • Additive Manufacturing • Multi-Material Assembly

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D developed a custom orthotic support designed around the functional requirements of long-term wear, pressure distribution, and user comfort.

The project was not only about producing a brace that could hold its shape. Orthotic failure often starts with discomfort, pressure concentration, poor contact surfaces, or a device that the user cannot wear consistently. For this reason, the design was developed as a modular system rather than a single rigid printed part.

The outer structure was designed to provide stability and support, while the inner TPU interface was used for flexibility, contact comfort, and improved adaptation to the user. Separating the structural and comfort functions allowed each part of the orthotic to perform its own job more effectively.

This approach allowed PH3D to create a more controlled orthotic solution by treating rigidity, flexibility, fit, and user contact as separate design requirements.

 


Highlights

  • Custom orthotic design for medical support
  • Modular construction instead of a single printed part
  • Rigid outer shell designed for structure and stability
  • Flexible TPU inner interface for comfort and contact surfaces
  • Design focused on pressure distribution and long-term wearability
  • Additive manufacturing used for function-specific medical support

Impact

This project shows how additive manufacturing can improve orthotic design when comfort and wearability are treated as functional requirements, not afterthoughts.

By separating the rigid support structure from the flexible user-contact interface, Printhoek 3D created an orthotic solution that addressed both mechanical support and practical daily use.

Containerized Incinerator Scale Model - Technical Concept Communication

Client: Namibia Medical Engineering
Industry: Industrial / Medical Waste Management
Service: LiDAR Scanning • CAD Development • Scale Model Design • Additive Manufacturing

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned by Namibia Medical Engineering to create a physical scale model of a proposed containerized incinerator system for presentation at Mining Expo.

The project was not a simple display model. The client needed a physical representation of an evolving technical concept that could be reviewed, understood, and presented before full-scale deployment. This required the model to remain connected to the real system while still being practical to manufacture at scale-model size.

Using a combination of manual measurements, LiDAR scan data, CAD development, and additive manufacturing, PH3D translated the concept into a physical model that could communicate layout, structure, and system intent clearly to stakeholders.

The final model allowed the proposed containerized incinerator system to be presented in a way that drawings and digital references alone could not achieve.


Highlights

  • Scale model of a proposed containerized incinerator system
  • Combination of manual measurements and LiDAR scan data
  • CAD development for physical model production
  • Additive manufacturing of detailed model components
  • Technical communication tool for Mining Expo presentation
  • Physical model used to support stakeholder understanding and review

Impact

This project shows how physical models can support industrial decision-making before a full-scale system is built.

By converting an evolving technical concept into a tangible model, Printhoek 3D helped Namibia Medical Engineering communicate the system more clearly, support stakeholder discussions, and present the project with greater confidence at Mining Expo.

Oxygen Cylinder Handle Assembly - Reverse Engineered Medical Equipment Component

Client: Confidential
Industry: Medical / Healthcare Equipment
Service: Reverse Engineering • CAD Reconstruction • Additive Manufacturing • Replacement Part Manufacturing

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned to recreate a failed handle assembly for a medical oxygen cylinder after the original component could no longer perform reliably.

The project focused on replacing the external handle assembly, not altering the oxygen cylinder or pressure system itself. The part needed to fit the existing cylinder interface, allow safe handling, and restore usability without waiting for imported replacement parts.

PH3D reverse engineered the failed component, rebuilt the geometry in CAD, and manufactured a replacement part locally through additive manufacturing. The design process focused on fitment, handling, strength, and compatibility with the existing equipment.

By producing the component locally, the client had a practical replacement pathway for a small but important medical equipment part.

 


Highlights

  • Reverse engineering of a failed oxygen cylinder handle assembly
  • CAD reconstruction for fit with existing medical equipment
  • Replacement part manufactured locally through additive manufacturing
  • Design focused on handling, fitment, and functional use
  • Reduced dependency on imported replacement components
  • Restored usability of existing equipment without replacing the full unit

Impact

This project shows how reverse engineering can support healthcare equipment maintenance when small external components fail or become difficult to source.

By recreating the oxygen cylinder handle assembly locally, Printhoek 3D helped restore function to existing equipment and reduced the delay associated with waiting for replacement parts through normal supply channels.

Corroded Pump Housing - Reverse Engineering for Material Testing

Client: Confidential
Industry: Industrial Manufacturing
Service: Metrology-Grade 3D Scanning • Reverse Engineering • CAD Reconstruction • Additive Manufacturing • Material Testing Support

 

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned to reverse engineer a corroded pump housing used in an industrial environment where repeated exposure to a dilute acidic solution had caused the original component to fail.

The project was not only about recreating the shape of the damaged housing. The more important requirement was understanding why the part was failing and creating a replacement pathway that could support fit testing, performance checks, and future material improvement.

Using metrology-grade 3D scanning, PH3D captured the remaining geometry of the damaged housing and reconstructed the missing and degraded features in CAD. The digital model was then prepared for additive manufacturing, allowing initial replacement units to be produced for fit and functional validation before committing to a more specialised long-term material.

This approach allowed the client to test the component geometry first, reduce uncertainty, and move toward a more chemically resistant solution with better technical confidence.


Highlights

  • 3D scanning of a corroded industrial pump housing
  • CAD reconstruction of damaged and missing geometry
  • Reverse engineering based on failure conditions, not only shape
  • Prototype manufacturing for fit and functional validation
  • Material strategy informed by chemical exposure requirements
  • Practical R&D pathway before final material commitment

Impact

This project shows how reverse engineering can support industrial maintenance and material development when existing components fail under operating conditions.

By capturing the damaged part, rebuilding the geometry digitally, and producing initial units for validation, Printhoek 3D helped the client move from repeated component failure toward a more controlled replacement and testing process.

Large-Format Giraffe Sculpture - Fabricated for Assembly and Installation

Client: Confidential
Industry: Interior / Custom Display Fabrication
Service: Large-Format Additive Manufacturing • Sculptural Fabrication • Assembly Planning • Finishing Support

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned to fabricate a large-format giraffe sculpture for an interior installation.

The project required translating a complex sculptural form into a physically stable, manufacturable object at scale. At this size, small decisions become critical. Wall thickness, segmentation, internal structure, joint alignment, handling, and finishing strategy all affect whether the final piece can be produced, assembled, moved, and installed successfully.

PH3D planned the sculpture as a segmented fabrication rather than a single printed object. Each section had to support the final build, align correctly during assembly, and preserve surface continuity across visible joins.

The real test came after fabrication. Once installed, the sculpture had to hold its presence, integrity, and visual intent in the environment it was designed for.


Highlights

  • Large-format sculptural fabrication
  • Complex form prepared for manufacturable segmentation
  • Internal support and wall thickness considered from the start
  • Joint alignment planned for assembly and finishing
  • Surface continuity maintained across assembled sections
  • Fabricated for handling, installation, and long-term display
  • Additive manufacturing used to produce a custom installation piece at scale

Impact

This project shows how additive manufacturing can support custom sculptural and interior display work when scale, assembly, and installation are planned properly.

By resolving the sculpture for fabrication before printing began, Printhoek 3D helped turn a complex digital form into a physical installation that could be assembled, finished, and placed in its final environment.

Whitney Namwi Ntema

Whitney is an industrial designer redefining the intersection of creativity and advanced manufacturing. At Printhoek 3D, she bridges engineering precision and visual design, ensuring every product reflects both function and identity. Her expertise in digital fabrication and branding enhances the bureau’s capabilities, turning innovation into design that inspires.

Whitney Namwi Ntema

Industrial Designer & Branding Specialist

Daniel Godfrey

Daniel is a mechatronic engineer with a strong background in programming, electronics, and product development. He has collaborated with Printhoek 3D on groundbreaking projects such as PET recycling systems and advanced prototyping solutions. Driven by curiosity and problem-solving, he brings research and innovation that turn ambitious ideas into practical technologies.

Daniel James Godfrey

Mechatronic Engineer & R&D Specialist

Justin Cole

Justin oversees workshop operations and ensures every print that leaves Printhoek 3D meets uncompromising quality standards. With years of hands-on expertise in additive manufacturing, inspection, and post-processing, he is dedicated to producing precise, reliable results. His eye for detail and commitment to excellence safeguard the bureau’s reputation for world-class precision.

Justin Rain Cole

Workshop & Quality Lead

Gino Fourie

Gino blends mechanical design expertise with sharp business and financial insight to keep Printhoek 3D operating at peak efficiency. From managing multi-printer farms to implementing real-time tracking systems, he ensures smooth workflows and scalable growth. His ability to connect engineering precision with strategic operations makes him a driving force behind the bureau’s expansion.

Gino Fourie

Head of Operations

Romar Quitasol

Romar is a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur driving Industry 4.0 in Namibia. He founded Printhoek 3D to pioneer advanced additive manufacturing and has over a decade of experience in 3D printing, scanning, and mechanical design. His mission is to push the boundaries of what’s possible, transforming complex engineering challenges into future-ready solutions

Rodolfo Marcial (Romar) Rañola Quitasol

Founder & CEO