How 3D-Printing Is Changing RF Front-End Design for Space Applications

3D-printing is leading to a major transformation in many industrial and application sectors, ranging from medical to aerospace. In the space sector, 3D-printing has firstly been adopted for the development of structural and thermal parts, such as brackets and heat pipes. In more recent years, thanks...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE journal of microwaves 2023-04, Vol.3 (2), p.1-15
Main Authors: Peverini, Oscar A., Lumia, Mauro, Addamo, Giuseppe, Virone, Giuseppe, Fonseca, Nelson J. G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3D-printing
additive manufacturing
Antenna arrays
Antennas
array antennas
communication satellite
microwave components
MTT 70th Anniversary Special Issue
multiple beam antennas
new space
Radio frequency
Satellite antennas
Satellite broadcasting
Satellite communication
Satellites
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Summary:3D-printing is leading to a major transformation in many industrial and application sectors, ranging from medical to aerospace. In the space sector, 3D-printing has firstly been adopted for the development of structural and thermal parts, such as brackets and heat pipes. In more recent years, thanks to improvements in precision and surface roughness, 3D-printing technologies have steadily been investigated also for the development of radio frequency components and advanced payloads. Indeed, the unique features of 3D-printing, including the free-form capability and the ease for customization, make these manufacturing technologies very appealing in the development of complex radio-frequency front-ends for space applications, including New Space constellations and next generation software-defined communication satellites. They also enable a drastic simplification of mechanical designs by reducing the number of interfaces and assembling screws of large radio-frequency front-ends, thus leading to significant mass savings and higher integration. This paper briefly reports on recent advances in 3D-printing that have been carried out according to the current trends in radio-frequency front-ends for satellite communications.
ISSN:2692-8388
2692-8388
DOI:10.1109/JMW.2023.3250343