Microscale 3D printer manufacturer波士顿微型制造（BMF）已宣布关闭4,300万美元的C融资回合。
由中国风投公司领导深圳资本集团公司(SCGC), the investment comes at a time of significant growth for BMF, which has managed to double its global install base over the last year. Using the capital raised from the move, the company now plans to step up its expansion, by investing in product R&D and building out its marketing team.
“Our business has scaled strongly, and we plan to use new capital to further expand our capability,” said John Kawola, CEO of BMF. “Our global reach has been appreciated and valued by our customers, and our systems are now being used all over the world to both prototype parts that previously could not be 3D printed and drive end-use part production where conventional methods are difficult.”
投影微观立体光刻
2016年共同创立MITBMF的业务围绕其专利投影微观立体光刻或“ PµSL”技术。本质上是SLA和投影光刻的组合，该过程看到了紫外线和定制光学器件的闪光，用于在微尺度上快速光聚糖化液体聚合物层。
该技术通过BMF的Microarch系统销售，使高分辨率微观结构的生产比人的头发小100倍以上。该公司的高端微架构尤其如此P130 3D打印机, which can print down to a resolution of 2μm. But the company does also offer the less accurateP140和P150机器，用于较低分辨率的应用。
Thanks to the PµSL process’ broad material compatibility, with tough, elastic, casting and high temperature resins, BMF has previously highlighted its suitability for medical and electronics applications. However, the firm now says that “demand for parts on the millimeter scale, with micron level tolerance, is on the rise,” opening opportunities for it in product R&D, as well as research and short-run production.
BMF目标加速增长
在推出Microarch机器之前，BMF的操作主要集中在提供微观3D打印作为服务。但是，自从其系统推出以来，该公司越来越多地试图扩展其分销商网络，以此作为使他们掌握更多客户的手段。在2022年初，此驱动器与BMF合作Shree Rapid Technologies，现在在印度运送他们。
AXT还同意今年早些时候开始在澳大利亚运输这些机器，而该公司本身则随波士顿和深圳的新设施以及重庆和东京的其他地点进行了扩展。继续在机器方面进行这种扩展，BMF发布了Microarch S230 3D打印机在2021年末。在发布时，该系统的销售速度比其前任快五倍，这使其具有推动该技术在低容量生产中采用的速度。
These advances in both the breadth and scope of its offering have enabled BMF to continue addressing new applications with its technology.IPFL宣布，它已成为英国服务局在2022年早些时候提供微打印零件的第一个英国服务局，此后BMF揭示了这一点等距微型成型would be installing microArch systems in January, to support clients’ design verification and prototyping efforts.
Over the last year, BMF has also worked closely with4D Biomaterials从公司的微观尺度上创建植入物4Degra Bioresorbable 3D打印材料。当两家公司在2021年12月的研究中宣布取得突破时，人们认为他们的方法可以使“ PµSL”技术能够解决从新的微侵入性应用程序到软组织研究需求的所有问题。
在其最新一轮的资金之后，BMF表示，它计划通过提高其在产品开发，销售，营销和客户支持方面的支出来继续“扩展和服务其全球客户群”。
BMF的微打印竞争对手
While BMF has established itself as one of the early market leaders in the microprinting segment, it’s far from the only firm to be operating in this area. Two-Photon Polymerization (2PP) specialistNanoscribe推出了它Quantum X align 3D printer2022年1月，据说能够将自由形式的微光学元素直接打印到具有精度的光纤和光子芯片上。
相似地，Upnano宣布成功的市场首次亮相2PP纳米3D打印机a year earlier. Since then, the firm has moved into the bioprinting segment with the纳米生物，旨在使活细胞的3D组织结构的生产，其分辨率从中层到纳米级。
Elsewhere,Optomechas also patented theAJP 3D printing of 3D microstructures，该过程允许以15微米精度创建零件。该技术通常用于解决电子应用程序，现在已成为该公司IP投资组合的一部分，因此在美国，亚洲和欧洲受到保护。
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Featured image shows a row of BMF 3D printers at one of its facilities. Photo via BMF.
