3D-Printed Electromagnetic Structures for Antenna and Millimeter-Wave Engineering Applications

用于天线和毫米波工程应用的 3D 打印电磁结构

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-05204
• 负责人: Saavedra, Carlos
• 金额: $ 3.35万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=752249
• 关键词: 3D; Printed; Electromagnetic; Structures; Antenna

3D printing is a powerful technique to build objects with complex geometries that are difficult, costly and sometimes not even possible to manufacture with conventional machining methods. Yet, it is comparatively recently that 3D printing technology has started to be explored for antennas and high-frequency electromagnetic (EM) structures-a field in which precision machining of bulk metal and dielectric materials using computer numerically controlled (CNC) drills and lathes remains widespread. In this research program we will investigate 3D-printed EM dielectric structures with advanced functionalities and reconfigurability using dielectric fluids. The outcomes of this research program are aimed at users of high-performance front-end wireless equipment for whom system reconfigurability and weight reduction can provide a decisive competitive advantage. This applies to manufacturers of communications and radar hardware for civilian and defence aircraft, satellites and maritime vessels all of which carry multiple antenna systems on-board. The frequency bands that we will use for prototype design are 8-12 GHz (X band) and 18-40 GHz (K and Ka bands), which cover point-to-point gigabit wireless links (i.e. tower to tower), broadband satellite communications, remote sensing and aeronautical/maritime radionavigation. The 3D printing methods we will use are fused deposition modeling (FDM) and stereolithography (SLA). For the fluidic aspects of this research, a 20-channel fluidic pumping system from Darwin Microfluidics Corp. (Paris, France) to source fluid in and out of the structures. All test and measurement of the EM structures will take place at Queen's University's laboratory facilities. Over the course of this program, highly qualified personnel trainees will learn advanced lab skills that include: antenna radiation pattern measurements, antenna efficiency measurements, design of antenna test mounts, 3D printing methods, antenna construction, PCB manufacturing and design of microfluidic systems. Each subject area described in this proposal reflects technologies that are used in industry today and they will serve to demonstrate that 3D printed dielectric structures can deliver excellent performance on par with what exists at present but at a fraction of the cost and time needed to fabricate them.

3D打印是一种强大的技术，可以用传统的加工方法制造具有困难，成本且有时甚至不可能制造的复杂几何形状的对象。然而，最近的3D打印技术已经开始在天线和高频电磁（EM）结构中进行探索 - 一个领域，其中散装金属和介电材料的精确加工使用计算机数值控制（CNC）的钻头和床位，广泛。在该研究计划中，我们将研究具有先进功能和使用介电流体的可重新配置的3D打印EM介电结构。该研究计划的结果针对高性能前端无线设备的用户，系统可重构和减轻重量可以提供决定性的竞争优势。这适用于民用和防御飞机，卫星和海上船的通信和雷达硬件制造商，所有这些船上都载有多个天线系统。我们将用于原型设计的频带是8-12 GHz（X带）和18-40 GHz（K和KA乐队），它们涵盖了点对点的千兆无线链接（即塔到塔），宽带卫星通信，遥感和航空/海上辐射行动。我们将使用的3D打印方法是融合沉积建模（FDM）和立体光刻（SLA）。对于这项研究的流体方面，来自达尔文微流体公司（法国巴黎）的20通道流体抽水系统，用于将流体进出结构。 EM结构的所有测试和测量都将在女王大学的实验室设施上进行。在该计划的整个过程中，高素质的人事学员将学习高级实验室技能，其中包括：天线辐射模式测量，天线效率测量，天线测试安装座的设计，3D打印方法，天线构造，PCB制造和微流体系统的设计。本提案中描述的每个主题领域都反映了当今行业中使用的技术，它们将证明3D打印的介电结构可以与目前的情况相同，但要以制造它们所需的成本和时间的一小部分来表现出色的性能。