Tend.ai makes software that enables a robot arm to operate, monitor and tend multiple 3D printers and other workshop machines. The system uses a webcam mounted on the arm to analyze the view and send instructions — starting and stopping prints, removing finished parts and actuating buttons or dials. Owners can train the robot's motions, and a shared library of machines and controls lets a robot generalize to familiar interfaces after learning basics. Since coming out of stealth in June, the software has been expanded to support CNC and injection-molding machines. The company has early adopters who will become official customers on January 1, and Silliman said there is interest from the aerospace industry. Tend.ai raised $2 million from True Ventures to continue product development, hiring coders and roboticists, with later spending planned for sales as the product matures.

Total raised

$2M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Seed

Latest activity

Nov 2016