Metamaterial-based Luneburg Lens for RF Applications Using Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

This article takes a detailed look at modeling, simulating, calculating, and fabricating a Luneburg lens using a single material and advanced 3D printing technology. The Luneburg lens is a type of gradient index lens that is spherically symmetrical, which simplifyies its manufacturing process and enhances its structural stability. However, fabrication may be expensive due to the special materials required for manufacturing. Discovering simpler and cost-effective production methods would enable the wider use of Luneburg lenses across various fields. The objective of this study was to use the lens to increase the gain and directivity of antennas at 5.8 GHz while maintaining a compact lens size and using low-cost material, such as ABS-like filament. A single-cell cross-shaped structure was utilized to construct the lens using 3D printing technology.

Keywords

• 3D printing
• ABS plastic
• Luneburg lens
• metamaterial