Antenna Fabrication using 3D printing techniques

This thesis focuses to explore the use of additive manufacturing (AM) techniques to fabricate various radio frequency (RF) devices. 3D printing, a term used for AM has evolved to the point where it is being introduced into various industries, one of these, discussed in this thesis is the fabrication of antennas for the aim to reduce manufacturing costs and time.

The aim is to investigate the performance and reliability of a modified low-cost 3D printer to print plastic and metal simultaneously. Accordingly, this thesis will explore the use of two specific AM technologies employed in the fabrication of several types of antennas and surfaces: i.e. the Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) method and a pneumatic micro dispensing technique for the conductive ink. The variety of antenna and surfaces that will be fabricated using this technique are a collection of patch antennas, dipole antenna and frequency selective surfaces. In addition, this thesis will address the design, fabrication and testing of the stated antennas covering a range of frequencies and their applications. Nonetheless, it is worth mentioning that this paper is not solely limited to the analysis of the two previously mentioned methods but also other addictive manufacturing technologies will be used and discussed in this project to reach a better understanding of the antennas fabrication process.

In conclusion, the thesis aims to demonstrate the efficient performance and successful integration of economical 3D printing methods to design and produce antennas, which are one of the most important gateways to communication.