Microwave characterization of conductive PLA and its application to a 12 to 18 GHz 3-D printed rotary vane attenuator
File(s)2021_06_IEEE_Access.pdf (5.74 MB)
Published version
OA Location
Author(s)
Marquez-Segura, Enrique
Shin, Sang-hee
Dawood, Attique
Ridler, Nick
Lucyszyn, Stepan
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This paper demonstrates an ultra-light weight microwave rotary vane attenuator (RVA) manufactured using polymer-based 3-D printing. In addition, for the first time, conductive polylactic acid (PLA) is rigorously characterized across both X- and Ku-bands (8 to 18 GHz); while acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene (ABS) has similarly been characterized across Ku-band (12 to 18 GHz). Using the results from the conductive PLA characterization process, an electromagnetic model was created for predicting the performance of the RVA. It is shown that, even with its complex internal geometrical features, a mix of both dielectric and conductive PLA building materials, an assembly of multiple parts and a mechanically rotating central section, our experimental proof-of-concept prototype RVA exhibits excellent measured performance across Ku-band. This tunable microwave control device represents a higher-level of functionality for additive manufacturing, when compared to a fixed (i.e., non-movable) 3-D printed structure, opening the way for other groups to routinely 3-D print custom microwave components and subsystems in the not too distant future.
Date Issued
2021-06-07
Date Acceptance
2021-05-31
Citation
IEEE Access, 2021, 9, pp.84327-84343
ISSN
2169-3536
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Start Page
84327
End Page
84343
Journal / Book Title
IEEE Access
Volume
9
Copyright Statement
© 2021 The Author(s). 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
Identifier
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9447786
Grant Number
CT11834
Subjects
08 Information and Computing Sciences
09 Engineering
10 Technology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-06-07