Inventables

What Inventables does

Inventables is a Chicago-based desktop digital fabrication company, founded in 2002, that designs and sells CNC machines, CO2 laser cutters, and proprietary CAD/CAM software targeting small businesses, makers, hobbyists, sign shops, and educational institutions. The Inventables brand is licensed and managed by CNC Maker Shop, a North Carolina-based LLC, with operations spanning 11-50 employees. Core hardware includes the X-Carve Pro CNC machines (4x2 at $4,995 and 4x4 at $7,495) with 25mm ball screws, NEMA-23 motors, and 2HP spindles, and the Muse Series desktop CO2 laser cutters (Muse Core 40W at $3,499, Muse 3D 45W at $4,995, Muse Titan 48x24 from $8,495) running proprietary RetinaEngrave v3.0 control software. The AirWeights vacuum workholding systems ($790-$1,590) round out a comprehensive fabrication ecosystem. Easel Pro, the company's freemium CAD/CAM software, costs $16.63/month or $216/year and provides drag-and-drop design, automated 2D/3D toolpath generation, STL import, a 3M+ design library, and compatibility with 30+ third-party CNC routers including Shapeoko, Onefinity, Longmill, and MillRight.

The business model blends one-time hardware sales (machines, accessories, consumables, and materials like Baltic Birch plywood, acrylics, and aluminum) with recurring software subscription revenue from Easel Pro, plus digital design file sales. Go-to-market combines product-led e-commerce at inventables.com, freemium software onboarding, community-driven demand generation through forums and project galleries, and assisted B2B sales for education and sign-making customers. Financing partnerships with Affirm (0% APR consumer, up to 36 months), ClickLease (business lease-to-own, up to 60 months), and Geneva Capital enable higher-ticket purchases. The company filed an SEC Form D in August 2024 for a $13.5 million exempt securities offering with $11.06 million already sold, its first disclosed capital event since a $11.5 million round in July 2019 led by Cue Ball with True Ventures, Draper Associates, Greycroft, and Pipeline Capital. The Muse Series launch in 2025 and the December 2024 sunset of the original X-Carve belt-driven kit line signal a deliberate portfolio transition toward higher-ASP, production-level hardware and adjacent fabrication categories.

Name

Inventables

Legal name

Inventables, Inc.

Website

https://inventables.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Inventables designs desktop CNC machines (X-Carve Pro), CO2 laser cutters (Muse Series), and Easel Pro CAD/CAM software, selling directly to small businesses, makers, hobbyists, and educational institutions via e-commerce with financing partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Desktop CNC Machines and Digital Fabrication Equipment

NAICS

Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing (3359)

SIC

Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

CNC Machine Tools (Turning, Milling, Machining Centers) (IMAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial CAD/CAM for Manufacturing (EDAOAGAG), CNC Machining & Programming (EDAOAGAA), Motion Control Controllers & CNC/Robot Drives (Motion Controllers, Multi-axis) (IMAGACAH)

Keywords

• Desktop CNC machines
• CAD/CAM software
• Digital fabrication
• 3D carving tools
• Laser cutter engraving

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. CNC Machine Hardware Sales: One-time sale of CNC machines including X-Carve Pro 4x2 ($4,995) and 4x4 ($7,495), original X-Carve kits ($1,395), and machine toolkits. Revenue recognized at point of sale with optional financing through Affirm or ClickLease.
2. Accessories and Consumables: CNC cutting bits ($2.42-$191.48), vacuum workholding systems ($790-$1,590), machine components, spare parts, and upgrades. Repeat purchases from existing customer base.
3. Easel Pro Software Subscription: Freemium model with free basic tier and paid Easel Pro at $216/year ($16.63/month with 3-year plan). Pro features include 3D carving, V-carving, 300+ fonts, Pro Design Library with 3M+ designs, advanced toolpaths, and multi-machine support.
4. Digital Design Files: Pre-made digital CNC design files for Easel software sold individually (e.g., Veteran American Eagle Seal, Cutting Board with Diamond Shape Inlay, Army Seal, Mandala designs). Instant download delivery.
5. Materials Sales: CNC materials including wood (Baltic Birch Plywood, MDF, Walnut, Maple), plastics (acrylic sheets, HDPE, Expanded PVC), metals (aluminum sheets), linoleum, and machinable wax. Various bundle options and bulk pricing.
6. Financing Partnerships: Revenue generated through financing partnerships with Affirm (consumer financing), ClickLease (business financing), and Geneva Capital. Transaction fees or revenue share from financing arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Inventables designs, manufactures, and sells desktop CNC machines (X-Carve Pro), CO2 laser cutters (Muse Series), vacuum workholding systems (AirWeights), CNC cutting bits, raw materials, and accessories. Its proprietary Easel Pro CAD/CAM software provides an integrated design-to-manufacturing workflow, sold both with machines and as a standalone subscription compatible with 30+ third-party CNC routers.

Product overview

Inventables offers a unified desktop manufacturing platform combining X-Carve Pro CNC machines with Easel Pro CAD/CAM software, plus the Muse Series CO2 laser cutters with RetinaEngrave v3.0 control. The X-Carve Pro line includes 4x2 ($4,995) and 4x4 ($7,495) models featuring ball screw precision, 2hp spindles, and NEMA-23 motors. Easel Pro software ($16.63/month) serves as the all-in-one design-to-manufacturing solution compatible with 30+ third-party CNC machines. Supporting products include AirWeights vacuum workholding systems ($790-$1,590), 59+ CNC cutting bit varieties (carbide, HSS, ballnose, fishtail configurations from $2.42-$191.48), materials (Baltic Birch plywood, MDF, acrylics, HDPE, aluminum, Corian, linoleum), digital design files, and comprehensive accessories (dust control, motors, probes, clamps). Muse laser cutters range from Muse Core 40W ($3,499) to Muse Titan 48x24 ($8,495+). The company (licensed brand of CNC Maker Shop, NC) targets makers, small businesses, educators, and furniture/sign makers with financing options through Affirm, ClickLease, and Geneva Capital.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• X-Carve: CNC machine product line including belt-driven kits and the newer X-Carve Pro production-level machines
• X-Carve Pro
• Easel
• Muse
• AirWeights

Quantifiable outcome

• Accuracy to width of a human hair (~0.001 inches) through 25mm ball screws and rigid aluminum gantry
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration19 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and ecosystem.

• CNC Maker ShopcoreOthersInventables brand is licensed and managed by CNC Maker Shop, a North Carolina based LLC. CNC Maker Shop provides spare parts, accessories, and ongoing support for X-Carve machines. This is the core operating entity behind the Inventables brand.
• CNC Machine Manufacturers (MillRight, Shapeoko, Longmill, etc.)ecosystemTechnology or IntegrationEasel Pro software is designed to work with over 30 types of CNC routers including MillRight, Yorahome, Bob's CNC, Longmill, Shapeoko, Onefinity, Open Builds, Sainsmart, FoxAlien, and others. Interoperability extends market reach for software.
• CNC Maker Shop (Accessories)ecosystemChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCNC Maker Shop continues to offer spare parts and accessories for X-Carve belt-driven kits through partnership with Inventables, ensuring customers can maintain existing machines.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Full Spectrum Laser: Desktop and mid-format CO2 laser cutter/engraver maker overlapping with the Muse product line for sign shops, hobbyists, and small manufacturers.
• Glowforge: Desktop CO2 laser cutter and engraver; directly comparable to Inventables' Muse line on product category and similar SMB/hobbyist/educator target customer, though positioned purely on laser cutting/engraving.

Direct peers

• Bantam Tools: Desktop CNC milling machine maker (Desktop CNC and NextDraw) targeting the same prosumer, educational, and small-business customer base as Inventables with comparable ball-screw precision positioning.
• Onefinity CNC: Desktop and benchtop CNC machine maker competing in the same prosumer/professional space as Inventables, with machines explicitly listed as compatible with Inventables' Easel Pro software.
• MillRight CNC: Affordable DIY and pre-built desktop CNC kits competing head-to-head with the now-discontinued X-Carve belt-driven kits and lower-priced alternatives to X-Carve Pro.
• Longmill: Maker of Longmill CNC routers targeted at hobbyists and small businesses; directly comparable to X-Carve Pro on price/precision and supported by Easel Pro compatibility.
• Carbide 3D (Shapeoko): Maker of Shapeoko CNC routers and Carbide Motion/Carbide Create software; directly competes with X-Carve Pro in the hobbyist and small-business desktop CNC segment with overlapping Easel-style software positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Tormach: Established CNC machine tool maker spanning hobbyist benchtop (24R, 440) up to full production machines; broader portfolio but overlaps Inventables' small-business and education positioning at the low end.
• ShopBot Tools: Long-standing CNC router maker serving small businesses, education, and maker spaces; offers larger-format machines but targets overlapping digital-fabrication customer segments.
• Dremel (Bosch): Established rotary tool and digital fabrication brand with Dremel DigiLab CNC and 3D printers; broader product portfolio but overlaps Inventables' hobbyist and education customer segments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/inventables
• Facebookfacebook.com/Inventables
• Instagraminstagram.com/inventables/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inventables

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Inventables