Metal complex inks specialist Electroninks has shared the commercial launch timeline for CircuitJet IV, a benchtop system designed to handle PCB fabrication and assembly within a single integrated platform. The company expects it to be available to customers in Q4 2026.
The intended user base includes R&D teams, product development groups, universities, and manufacturing facilities in commercial, aerospace, and defense sectors.
“Distributed electronics manufacturing is no longer theoretical,” said Dr. Michael Bell, senior director of manufacturing systems & platforms at Electroninks. “Integrated autonomous manufacturing platforms like CircuitJet IV fundamentally change how circuit boards can be designed, fabricated, assembled, and deployed.”
What the System Does
CircuitJet IV combines several manufacturing steps that are typically handled by separate machines: laser drilling and etching, inkjet-based through-hole plating, solder mask and legend deposition, pick-and-place component assembly, and reflow processing. The system operates on a 30-by-44-inch footprint and is designed to work with 9×12-inch quarter-size panels. According to Electroninks, operators can initiate a job and the platform manages subsequent stages without manual intervention between steps, using closed-loop inspection and feedback to monitor output.
The platform is built on the company’s metal complex conductive ink chemistry, which Electroninks has previously developed for semiconductor packaging and EMI shielding applications.
Electroninks frames the platform’s value less around speed and more around process consistency. “The hard problem in rapid PCB prototyping has never been speed, it’s been trust,” said Bell. “Many desktop systems can produce a board quickly, but the materials, substrates, and processes often deviate significantly from industry-standard manufacturing. Our goal with CircuitJet IV was to build a platform that delivers production-grade boards using semiconductor-grade plating, standard substrates, and workflows electrical engineers can rely on.”
Early Access and Commercial Approach
Rather than a standard equipment sale, Electroninks is offering prospective buyers the option to submit their own PCB designs for sample runs on the platform before committing to a purchase. The company says this approach allows engineering teams to assess boards made from their own files and process requirements ahead of any commercial agreement.
“We want customers to evaluate real boards produced from their own files before making any commitment,” added Bell. “The earlier we engage with a customer, the better we can optimize the platform around their workflow , from ink chemistries and fixturing to software and process tuning. That collaborative approach is essential for scaling distributed electronics manufacturing successfully.”
Technical Specifications
CircuitJet IV marks Electroninks’ expansion from conductive ink materials into complete PCB fabrication systems. Pricing has not been disclosed ahead of the launch. Full technical specifications are outlined below.
| Category | Specification | Value |
| PCB Fabrication | Build Area | 9 × 12 in (229 × 305 mm) |
| Layers | 2 layers* | |
| Substrate | Copper-clad FR4, 0.2–3 mm | |
| Min Trace Width | 100 μm (4 mil) | |
| Min Space | 50 μm (2 mil) | |
| Min Pitch | 150 μm (6 mil) | |
| Via Plating | Conductive ink fill (bath-free) | |
| Surface Finish | Industry standard, via inkjet | |
| File Input | Gerber + PnP CSV | |
| Laser System | Laser Class | Class 4 interior · Class 1 exterior |
| Safety | Fully mechanical interlocks on all access doors | |
| Inkjet System | Operations | Surface finish, via plating, solder mask, legend inks |
| Description | Multi-head inkjet, sequential deposition with in-situ cure | |
| SMT Assembly | Component Supply | Cut tape · tray · feeder options |
| Min Component | 0402 passives · standard SMT ICs | |
| Vision | Laser distance sensing · fiducial · part and board inspection | |
| Paste | Volumetric, stencil-free | |
| System & Safety | Software | CircuitBuild (license-free) |
| Network | Optional Wi-Fi or Ethernet | |
| Laser Safety | Class 1 rated enclosure (acrylic) | |
| Filtration | 5-layer H13-grade HEPA + activated carbon | |
| Filtration Efficiency | 99.97% @ 0.3 μm | |
| Office Use | Safe in any room, no special ventilation required | |
| Physical & Electrical | Dimensions | 44″ × 30″ × 28″ (1,118 × 762 × 711 mm) |
| Weight | 250 lbs (113 kg) | |
| Power | 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz, 1200 W max | |
| Environment | 50–90 °F (10–32 °C), <60% RH non-condensing | |
| Transport | Optional Pelican AL5834-1028 hardened case |
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Featured image shows CircuitJet IV. Image via Electroninks.
