Open AccessOn the design and fabrication of W‐band stabilised‐pattern dual‐polarised horn antennas with DMLS and CNC
Author(s) -
AlTarifi Muhannad A.,
Filipovic Dejan S.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
iet microwaves, antennas and propagation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.555
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1751-8733
pISSN - 1751-8725
DOI - 10.1049/iet-map.2017.0167
Subject(s) - direct metal laser sintering , materials science , fabrication , perpendicular , optics , french horn , horn antenna , directional antenna , antenna (radio) , acoustics , laser , engineering , physics , slot antenna , electrical engineering , geometry , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , mathematics
A square horn antenna with rotationally‐stable radiation patterns that are also nearly invariant with frequency across the entire W band (75–110 GHz) is demonstrated. The flaring is designed such that the horn can support two perpendicular linear polarisations with very similar radiation patterns. The antenna is fabricated in two ways; by assembling two computer numerical control (CNC) machined split blocks, and by metallic 3D printing using direct metal laser sintering (DMLS). All fabricated antennas (one CNC aluminium, one DMLS aluminium, and one DMLS stainless steel) have similar performances that agree well with theory. Effect of surface roughness with the DMLS antennas is found to be electrically insignificant which is desired for fast prototyping and many current and emerging applications.