Boston Micro Fabrication — BMF Among Friends – is one of the biggest names in 3D printing tiny things. The company has just announced a Series C to continue its journey as it announces it has doubled its installation base in the past year.
“Our business has grown strongly and we plan to use the new capital to further expand our capacity,” said John Kawola, CEO of BMF. “Our global reach has been valued and appreciated by our customers, and our systems are now used around the world for both prototype parts that previously could not be 3D printed, and the production of end-use parts where conventional methods are difficult.”
The type of 3D printing processes that BMF offers its customers are tailored to the small, high-precision markets. BMF’s machines use what the company calls Projection Micro Stereolithography (PµSL) technology, which uses light- and photosensitive resins to create ultra-high-resolution parts – capable of detail down to 2m and layer thicknesses of 5-20 µm.
It’s hard to put into words how small such parts are – hence the photo of the competition and the tiny gears at the top of this article. It baffles the mind and it unlocks some pretty incredible use cases for 3D printing.
These little guys are 3D printed glaucoma stents; a medical device that can be inserted into the eye to help treat glaucoma. You may recognize the basis on which they are placed: a penny. The business case study of these tiny devices is fascinating. Image Credits: BMF (Opens in a new window)
The company has experienced some pretty extraordinary growth over the past year; it claims it has doubled its install base, meaning there are over 200 customer locations around the world. BMF lists electronics, medical devices, optical manufacturers and advanced research labs as the largest customer groups. It also expanded its global operations, with offices in Boston, Mass, US and Shenzhen, China, with additional locations in Chongqing, China and Tokyo.
BMF announced today that it has closed a Series C round for a total consideration of $43 million. The company was unwilling to share the terms or valuation of the round, which was led by Shenzhen Capital Group Co., Ltd. It will use the funding to advance product development, sales and marketing, and customer support as it continues to expand and provide services. its worldwide customer base.
The company did a video showing what they do, including some pretty nifty 3D printer porn if that’s your thing, like it’s mine: