Additive manufacturing in compact high-gain wideband antennas operating in mm-wave frequencies

Abstract

Abstract A wideband dual-reflector 3D-printed antenna is proposed to operate in the mm-Wave band. The design is based on a Cassegrain reflector optics but including a dielectric piece for merging the feeding system and the support structure of the subreflector. The operational principle of this antenna is presented, as well as the design parameters. Then, a prototype to operate at Ka-band is manufactured combining a 3D-printed technique using PLA as printable material and a spray to coating the antenna, providing a low-cost affordable solution. The different pieces of the antenna are evaluated, and the antenna is also measured in a spherical compact range. An excellent agreement between simulations and measurements is obtained, resulting in a $$48.2\%$$ 48.2 % of operational bandwidth. These results validate the use of coating procedures and the design technique at these demanding frequencies. Its operation shows a stable gain in the entire Ka-band (including $$28$$ 28 and $$39 \mathrm{GHz}$$ 39 GHz ), which makes the antenna as a suitable light, low-cost, and broadband solution for mm-Wave applications.