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

3D打印是一种强大的技术，可以构建具有复杂几何形状的物体，这些物体是困难的，昂贵的，有时甚至无法用传统的加工方法制造。然而，直到最近，3D打印技术才开始在天线和高频电磁（EM）结构上进行探索——在这个领域，使用计算机数控（CNC）钻头和车床对大块金属和介电材料进行精密加工仍然很普遍。在这个研究项目中，我们将研究具有先进功能和可重构性的3d打印EM介质结构。该研究计划的结果针对高性能前端无线设备的用户，系统可重构性和重量减轻可以为他们提供决定性的竞争优势。这适用于民用和国防飞机、卫星和海上船只的通信和雷达硬件制造商，所有这些设备都携带多个天线系统。我们将用于原型设计的频段为8-12 GHz （X频段）和18-40 GHz （K和Ka频段），涵盖点对点千兆无线链路（即塔对塔），宽带卫星通信，遥感和航空/海事无线电导航。我们将使用的3D打印方法是熔融沉积建模（FDM）和立体光刻（SLA）。对于本研究的流体方面，来自达尔文微流体公司（巴黎，法国）的20通道流体泵送系统来获取进出结构的流体。EM结构的所有测试和测量都将在女王大学的实验室设施中进行。在这个项目的过程中，高素质的培训人员将学习先进的实验室技能，包括：天线辐射方向图测量，天线效率测量，天线测试支架设计，3D打印方法，天线构造，PCB制造和微流体系统设计。本提案中描述的每个主题领域都反映了当今工业中使用的技术，它们将用于证明3D打印电介质结构可以提供与目前存在的技术相当的优异性能，但制造它们所需的成本和时间只是其中的一小部分。

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.