3-D printed metal-pipe rectangular waveguides
File(s)2015_09_TCPM.pdf (2.36 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This paper first reviews manufacturing technologies for realizing air-filled metal-pipe rectangular waveguides (MPRWGs) and 3-D printing for microwave and millimeter-wave applications. Then, 3-D printed MPRWGs are investigated in detail. Two very different 3-D printing technologies have been considered: low-cost lower-resolution fused deposition modeling for microwave applications and higher-cost high-resolution stereolithography for millimeter-wave applications. Measurements against traceable standards in MPRWGs were performed by the U.K.'s National Physical Laboratory. It was found that the performance of the 3-D printed MPRWGs were comparable with those of standard waveguides. For example, across X-band (8-12 GHz), the dissipative attenuation ranges between 0.2 and 0.6 dB/m, with a worst case return loss of 32 dB; at W-band (75-110 GHz), the dissipative attenuation was 11 dB/m at the band edges, with a worst case return loss of 19 dB. Finally, a high-performance W-band sixth-order inductive iris bandpass filter, having a center frequency of 107.2 GHz and a 6.8-GHz bandwidth, was demonstrated. The measured insertion loss of the complete structure (filter, feed sections, and flanges) was only 0.95 dB at center frequency, giving an unloaded quality factor of 152--clearly demonstrating the potential of this low-cost manufacturing technology, offering the advantages of lightweight rapid prototyping/manufacturing and relatively very low cost when compared with traditional (micro)machining.
Date Issued
2015-09-18
Date Acceptance
2015-07-22
Citation
IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology, 2015, 5 (9), pp.1339-1349
ISSN
2156-3985
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Start Page
1339
End Page
1349
Journal / Book Title
IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology
Volume
5
Issue
9
Copyright Statement
© 2015 IEEE. Translations and content mining are permitted for academic research only. This is an Open Access article, with further information at https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TCPMT.2015.2462130
License URL
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Identifier
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=7217811&tag=1
Grant Number
PO 500064496 (IeMRC)
Subjects
3-D Printing
Additive Manufacturing
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2015-08-20