Inkbit

A spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Inkbit offers 3D printers and on-demand manufacturing services using a proprietary 3D vision system targeting several industrial applications including industrial automation, manifold and fluid handling, wearables, and external medical devices. The company’s proprietary 3D vision and scanning system Vista operates with a closed-loop feedback system that scans data after each layer of deposition and generates a topographical map of each layer (using scan data and source part geometry), which ensures accuracy of printing. Inkbit also uses proprietary new materials chemistries that allow for the printing of elastomers that are capable of stretching over 1.8x, high-temperature materials that can withstand temperatures up to 120 °C, and rigid-impact materials that can withstand long-term UV exposure. The company reportedly completed its first customer installation in April 2022. 

Key customers and partnerships

The company supplied three machines to the US Air Force and shipped the first Vista platform to Saint Gobain (as of November 2022).

Inkbit partnered with Makelab in September 2023 to accelerate time to market, facilitate flexible hardware development, and broaden access to Inkbit’s Vision-Controlled Jetting (VCJ) technology.

Funding and financials

In July 2021, Inkbit raised USD 30 million in Series B funding, bringing its total funding to USD 45 million. The funds were expected to be used to expand sales in the US as well as other markets including Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.