The market for 3D-printed prosthetics continues to grow, as additive manufacturing offers unique opportunities in terms of customization, comfort, and cost. It allows for components tailored to each person’s anatomy—all more quickly and at unbeatable prices. This makes these prosthetics more accessible. So, what sets the startup Allow Motion apart in this rapidly growing market? The young Belgian company offers personalized, 3D-printed myoelectric prosthetics controlled by artificial intelligence. This AI learns from the human body, allowing the user to control it with their thoughts rather than through muscles or buttons. We met with its co-founder, Joachim Delporte, to learn more!
3DN: Could you briefly introduce yourself and tell us how you first learned about additive manufacturing?
My name is Joachim Delporte, co-founder and CEO of Allow Motion. Together with my brother Dylan, a biology specialist, we grew up in an environment where our parents used orthoses and prostheses on a daily basis. When we realized the limitations of existing solutions, we decided to create Allow Motion.
Joachim, co-founder of Allow Motion
Personally, I discovered additive manufacturing in 2012, when the first 3D printers for the general public hit the market. I remember thinking how fascinating it was to be able to create objects from a simple filament. This technology immediately struck me as revolutionary, especially for creating customized, fast, and accessible solutions—something obvious in the field of prosthetics. Additive manufacturing emerged as a natural choice: it allows for rapid production, lower costs, and complete customization—essential advantages for meeting users’ real needs.
3DN: What is Allow Motion? Why did you start the company?
Allow Motion develops innovative myoelectric prosthetics designed to restore independence and freedom of movement to people with amputations. Our company was founded on a core belief: prosthetics must be functional, aesthetically pleasing, and accessible. Our mission is to transform the user experience by combining cutting-edge technology with a human-centered approach.
But beyond that, we want to enhance our global impact: not just to replace a limb, but to transform lives, reduce inequalities in access to cutting-edge technologies, and demonstrate that medical innovation can be both humane and sustainable.
The prostheses contain electronic components.
3DN: How are your prosthetics made? What sets them apart from other solutions on the market?
Our prosthetics are fully customized: each piece is modeled based on the user’s anatomy and needs. We combine 3D-printed components with advanced myoelectric systems controlled by artificial intelligence. What sets us apart is our holistic approach: comfort, design, intuitive control (thanks to AI), and an affordable business model (a subscription that includes updates and maintenance).
What’s the big difference? It’s a mind-controlled prosthesis—literally controlled by thought—while most solutions still rely on muscle signals or buttons. Our integrated AI learns from your body and adapts to your natural movements, until the line between machine and human blurs.
3DN: What printing technology does Allow Motion use? What materials?
We use industrial multi-axis (5-axis) 3D printers to produce complex, precisely tailored parts. Materials are carefully selected for their biocompatibility, lightness, and strength: flexible TPU-type polymers for parts in contact with the skin, as well as engineering composites for support structures. We also integrate printed electronic components directly into some parts for more precise and reliable myoelectric control.
The prostheses are manufactured using a multi-axis 3D printer.
3DN: What challenges do you face in developing prosthetics using additive manufacturing?
The main challenges are anatomical accuracy and the large-scale reproducibility of one-of-a-kind parts. Extreme customization requires mastery of design, materials, and printing processes alike. We must also ensure the durability and safety of the printed parts, while keeping costs low enough to make our solutions accessible. The integration of AI and printed electronics also presents a major technical challenge, but it is precisely this that drives our innovation.
3DN: Any last words for our readers?
At Allow Motion, we believe that technology should serve people. Our goal is to redefine movement for everyone, transforming prosthetics from a compromise into a true extension of oneself. Thank you to 3Dnatives for giving a voice to the innovators who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Feel free to visit our website if you’d like to learn more!
What do you think of the custom prosthetics made by Allow Motion? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn or Facebook pages! Plus, don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter to get the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox. You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel. Interested in more medical and dental 3D printing news? Visit our dedicated page HERE.
*All Photo Credits: Allow Motion
View Comments (1)
Hi I am just messaging you and to know how much does this cost and to make how good is the robotic hand I had an accident 9 years ago at work with my hand and hafe my hand and fingers got cut of and it is hard to do something