Polymer-based 3-D printed 140-220 GHz low-cost quasi-optical components and integrated subsystem assembly
File(s)2021_02_IEEE_ACCESS.pdf (3.86 MB)
Published version
OA Location
Author(s)
Shin, Sanghee
Shang, Xiaobang
Ridler, Nick
Lucyszyn, Stepan
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Few examples of individual polymer-based 3-D printed quasi-optical component types have been previously demonstrated above ca. 100 GHz. This paper presents the characterization of polymer-based 3-D printed components and complete subsystems for quasi-optical applications operating at G-band (140 to 220 GHz). Two low-cost consumer-level 3-D printing technologies (vat polymerization and fused deposition modeling) are employed, normally associated with microwave frequencies and longer wavelength applications. Here, five different quasi-optical component types are investigated; rectangular horn antennas, 90° off-axis parabolic mirrors, radiation absorbent material (RAM), grid polarizers and dielectric lenses. As an alternative to conventional electroplating, gold-leaf gilding is used for the polarizer. A detailed investigation is undertaken to compare the performance of our 3-D printed antennas, mirrors and RAM with their commercial equivalents. In addition, a fully 3-D printed, RAM-lined housing with central two-axis rotational platform is constructed for performing two-port measurements of a quasi-optical horn-mirror-polarizer-mirror-horn subsystem. Measured results generally show excellent performances, although the grid polarizer is limited by the minimum strip width, separation distance and metallization thickness. The ultra-low cost, `plug and play' housing is designed to give a fast measurement setup, while minimizing misaligning losses. Its RAM lining is designed to suppress reflections due to diffraction from components under test that may cause adverse multi-path interference. Our work investigates each component type at G-band and integrates them within subsystem assemblies; operating at frequencies well above those normally associated with low-cost consumer-level 3-D printing technologies. This opens-up new opportunities for rapid prototyping of complete low-cost front-end quasi-optical upper-millimeter-wave subsystems.
Date Issued
2021-02-19
Date Acceptance
2021-02-03
Citation
IEEE Access, 2021, 9 (1), pp.28020-28038
ISSN
2169-3536
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Start Page
28020
End Page
28038
Journal / Book Title
IEEE Access
Volume
9
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2021 The Authors. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. For more information, see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License URL
Sponsor
UK Space Agency
UK Space Agency
UK Space Agency
Identifier
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9349430
Grant Number
CT11834
PO No: 454400
NSTP3-FT-046
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Computer Science, Information Systems
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Telecommunications
Computer Science
Engineering
Lenses
Horn antennas
Mirrors
Printers
Random access memory
Polymers
Antenna measurements
Additive manufacturing
3-D printing
millimeter-wave
G-band
WR-5
quasi-optical
horn antenna
parabolic mirror
RAM
grid polarizer
dielectric lens
08 Information and Computing Sciences
09 Engineering
10 Technology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-02-08