Freeform Raises $67M Series B for AI Metal 3D Printing
Freeform, a California-based developer of AI-native autonomous manufacturing systems for metal 3D printing, has raised $67 million in Series B funding from investors including NVIDIA's NVentures, Founders Fund, and AE Ventures. The company integrates software, hardware, physics simulation, sensors, and machine learning to produce high-quality industrial-scale metal parts at unprecedented speed and scale. The capital will fuel expansion of its Factory-as-a-Service model and the launch of the Skyfall factory platform with 25x capacity.
AI Drives Metal 3D Printing Scale-Up
The timing aligns with surging interest in AI for hardware manufacturing. Freeform's full-stack approach differentiates from traditional players like Velo3D by enabling autonomous, production-scale output. This addresses the gap between prototyping and high-volume manufacturing in demanding sectors.
Production Bottlenecks Plague Additive Manufacturing
Metal 3D printing has struggled to transition from prototypes to industrial production, limited by manual processes, inconsistent quality, and high costs. Sectors like aerospace and defense require mission-critical parts in volumes unattainable with legacy methods. Current solutions fail at scale, forcing reliance on slower subtractive manufacturing.
Physical AI Masters Real-Time Metal Formation
Freeform's platform uses 'Physical AI'—proprietary models combining physics simulation and ML—for closed-loop control during printing. This delivers consistent quality for complex geometries impossible with competitors' open-loop systems. Unlike Velo3D's supervised printing, Freeform operates autonomously, shipping thousands of parts in continuous production.
As co-founder Erik Palitsch explained in the announcement:
"Built proprietary full-stack from first principles; enables new classes of products impossible with traditional manufacturing."
NVIDIA Backs Autonomous Factory Vision
NVIDIA's involvement signals validation for AI in physical manufacturing, complementing software investments. Founders Fund brings bold hardware expertise, while AE Ventures adds industrial tech credibility. This mix positions Freeform for strategic growth over pure expansion capital.
Aerospace Fuels Additive Demand Surge
The metal additive manufacturing market supports high-precision needs in aerospace, defense, and beyond, with Freeform serving Boeing and rocket programs. Recent activity includes partnerships for certification and Formula 1 applications. The sector sees fragmentation between prototype-focused firms and emerging production scalers.
Ex-SpaceX Expertise Powers Breakthrough
Founded by Erik Palitsch, former SpaceX engine lead, and Tasso Lappas, ex-Velo3D CTO, Freeform leverages proven talent in high-stakes manufacturing. Their experience shipping Raptor engines and scaling 3D print tech infuses credibility for industrial adoption.
Skyfall Unlocks 25x Capacity Growth
Freeform plans to deploy the Skyfall platform in H1 2026, expanding factory capacity 25-fold. This supports national scaling and new clients in transportation and robotics, building on current traction with thousands of shipped parts.