Optomec

Optomec
Name	Optomec
Industry	Additive manufacturing, Aerospace, Electronics
Founded	2000
Founders	Dr. Dave Camarco
Headquarters	Albuquerque, New Mexico
Key people	CEO (various)
Products	Aerosol Jet printers, LENS systems, software
Employees	~100–250

Optomec is an American technology company specializing in additive manufacturing systems for printed electronics and metal 3D printing. It develops and commercializes Aerosol Jet and Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS) platforms used by aerospace, automotive, semiconductor, and defense firms. The company has contributed to micro-scale printing, repair of high-value components, and integration of additive processes into supply chains.

History

Founded in 2000 by Dr. Dave Camarco, Optomec emerged from research addressing microfabrication and directed energy deposition. Early milestones include commercialization of Aerosol Jet printing for microelectronics alongside adoption of LENS-style directed energy deposition for repair tasks. Over time Optomec collaborated with major institutions such as the Air Force Research Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, NASA, and industry partners including Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and General Electric to validate processes for harsh-environment components. The firm expanded through product iterations, securing contracts and pilot programs with integrators like Honeywell and foundries serving Intel-class markets. Key timeline events reflect development of materials libraries, closed-loop process control, and transition from prototype to production deployments in multiple United States Department of Defense programs and commercial aerospace fleets.

Technology and Products

Optomec’s core technologies include Aerosol Jet Printing and variants of directed energy deposition derived from LENS. Aerosol Jet systems atomize inks and route aerosolized droplets through shear-focused nozzles, enabling deposition on substrates ranging from ceramics used by GE Aviation to silicon wafers for companies such as Analog Devices and Texas Instruments. LENS-style metal systems employ powder-fed laser cladding for build and repair operations utilized by Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce repair centers. Product families incorporate motion platforms, multi-material print heads, and process-control software interoperable with industrial automation platforms from Siemens and Rockwell Automation. Consumables and material qualifications have been developed in cooperation with suppliers like 3M, Applied Materials, Dow Chemical Company, and specialty powder vendors serving ArcelorMittal-scale operations. The company’s software integrates feedback from metrology systems from firms such as Zeiss and Renishaw to support in-situ monitoring and closed-loop correction.

Applications

Optomec systems serve a range of applications across aerospace, electronics, medical device, and energy sectors. In aerospace, platforms enable repair of turbine blades and conformal sensors for programs at NASA Glenn Research Center and United Technologies Corporation facilities. Electronics applications include printed interconnects, antennae, and sensor arrays for customers like Qualcomm, Broadcom, and Honeywell Aerospace. In medical devices, micro-scale conductive traces and bioelectronic prototypes have been explored in collaboration with institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Energy-sector use cases include corrosion-resistant coatings and conductive pathways on components for companies like Schlumberger and Siemens Energy. Defense-oriented deployments have supported mission-critical refurbishment and rapid-prototype subsystems for contractors including Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.

Manufacturing and Operations

Optomec’s manufacturing footprint centers in Albuquerque with production, engineering, and materials labs. Operations emphasize integration of process development, qualification, and system assembly to meet standards adopted by customers like Boeing and Pratt & Whitney for airline OEM supply chains. Quality management aligns with certification frameworks commonly used by Federal Aviation Administration-regulated suppliers and large defense primes. Service models include on-site installation, operator training, and partnerships with managed service providers such as GE Additive-type networks for aftermarket repair. Global sales and support have involved distributors and systems integrators active in industrial hubs such as Munich, Shanghai, Bangalore, and Bristol.

Industry Impact and Partnerships

Optomec has influenced the printed-electronics and directed-energy deposition markets through technology transfer, collaborative qualification programs, and standards engagement. Strategic partnerships and joint development agreements have been announced with incumbents and startups alike, including collaborations with Eaton, ABB, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and research consortia at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Participation in government-funded initiatives facilitated technology maturation for defense and civil sectors via agencies such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the National Science Foundation. Through customer deployments and co-development projects with aerospace OEMs and semiconductor houses, the company contributed to broader adoption of additive repair and embedded electronics manufacturing paradigms.

Intellectual Property and Research Contributions

Optomec holds a portfolio of patents covering aerosolization, nozzle designs, print-head actuation, process control, and directed energy deposition techniques. The company has published and co-authored technical papers and presented at conferences such as the International Conference on Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing, SME RAPID + TCT, and symposia hosted by American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Collaborative research with national labs and universities produced material qualification data sets and process models cited by fabrication labs and standards bodies. Licensing activities, material partnerships, and OEM integrations reflect a strategy of protecting core IP while enabling ecosystem adoption.

Category:Additive manufacturing companies Category:Companies based in Albuquerque, New Mexico