Carbon-fiber 3D printer aims at mass-producing drones and aircraft parts

Impossible Objects, an Illinois-based manufacturing technology company, has secured $40 million to expand its high-speed 3D printing system for industrial-scale production of carbon-fiber components.

The Series B funding, led by Inflection Equity, will enable the company to increase production of its Composite-Based Additive Manufacturing (CBAM) systems. These systems are pivotal for applications in aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Central to this expansion is the CBAM 25, a carbon-fiber printing system capable of producing strong, lightweight parts without the need for costly tooling associated with traditional manufacturing methods.

While 3D printing has been available for decades, its industrial application has often been limited to prototyping due to slow production speeds and high costs. Impossible Objects claims its CBAM process overcomes these challenges by combining rapid production with advanced composite materials, including carbon fiber.

The CBAM 25 can produce up to 25 layers per minute, making it 15 times faster than competing additive manufacturing technologies. The system can manufacture components with strength reaching 200 MPa, reportedly up to four times greater than parts made through rival methods.

The technology also addresses issues of shrinkage and warpage, enhancing the dimensional accuracy of printed components. Since its introduction in early 2025, Impossible Objects has received orders from entities such as the U.S. Air Force and the National Institute for Aviation Research.

The CBAM 25 system is designed to meet the high productivity and reliability needs of advanced manufacturing while offering the flexibility required by modern supply chains. It could significantly impact distributed defense production, with capabilities to manufacture up to 10,000 drone bodies monthly at the U.S. Army’s Rock Island Arsenal.

Impossible Objects has also secured $20 million through U.S. government contracts, focusing on high-strength drones and lightweight aircraft structures. The latest funding will support the production of more CBAM systems, their deployment at customer sites, and the expansion of service and commercial teams.