3D printed utility dielectric core manufacturing process for antenna prototyping

• Published in: IET microwaves, antennas & propagation antennas & propagation, 2018-08, Vol.12 (10), p.1633-1638
• Main Authors: Brister, John A, Edwards, Robert M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D printed utility dielectric core manufacturing process; antenna feeds; coating; coatings; dielectric devices; dielectric materials; dielectrically loaded antenna prototyping; helical antennas; horn antenna feed; horn antennas; lens; lens antennas; lenses; magnesium silicate; optimisation; powder; powders; Research Article; search algorithm; search problems; spherical helical ball antenna; talcum powder; three‐dimensional printing; titanium dioxide
• ISSN: 1751-8725; 1751-8733; 1751-8733
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-map.2017.1147

A prototyping method for dielectrically loaded antennas is presented. Dielectric loading has been used with horn antennas, feeds, and lenses. Dielectrics have also been used for coating antennas submerged in water and biological matter and have led to improvements in bandwidth and efficiency as well as antenna miniaturisation. The authors present a new technique to produce variable dielectrics with permittivity from 6 to 28 using two commonly available powders, titanium dioxide (used in foods) and magnesium silicate (used in talcum powder). An example spherical helical ball antenna is used to demonstrate the process. In this antenna, the mixed powders were encased in a 3D printed shell that achieved a reduction in diameter of the spherical antenna by a factor of 1.85. The technique aids rapid prototyping and optimisation using search algorithms.