3-D printed primary standards for calibration of microwave network analysers

Abstract

This paper describes the design, fabrication and testing of 3-D printed primary standards for use with the calibration of microwave vector network analysers. The standards are a short-circuit and a quarter wavelength section of line that are designed for use with the Thru-Reflect-Line calibration technique. The standards are realised in metal-pipe rectangular waveguide, covering the frequency range from 12 GHz to 18 GHz (i.e., Ku-band). The standards are polymer-based 3-D printed, which is subsequently metal plated to provide the required electrical conductivity. The performance of the standards is compared with conventionally machined standards that are used as part of the UK's primary national measurement system for microwave scattering parameters. The authors believe that this is the first time that 3-D printing techniques have been used to produce such calibration standards, and, that this could lead to a new approach to providing metrological traceability for these types of measurement.

Parameters Characterization of Dielectric Materials Samples in Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Bands

“…Their main advantages includes the low cost, the possibility of great customization, the rapid prototyping, the design flexibility or the possibility of combining materials. Concretely, in microwave area, several designs have been proposed for different purposes [1]- [4]. Mechanical properties are usually available from manufacturers.…”

Performance Evaluation of Broadband Characterization of Coupled Transmission Lines Even- and Odd-Mode Propagation Constants Using Differential and Common Mode S-Parameters

“…The method used estimates the propagation constant of 2-port transmission lines in broadband. It is based on the one proposed by Bianco and Parodi in [28] and later used in TRL calibration [29], [30] to get the propagation constant value.…”

Microwave Characterization of Conductive PLA and Its Application to a 12 to 18 GHz 3-D Printed Rotary Vane Attenuator

“…At the measurement ports, the rectangular waveguide flanges are based on WR-62 standards, operating at Ku-band, having internal cross-sectional dimensions of a = 15.7988 mm and b = 7.8994 mm. This band is suitable for PolyJet 3-D printing, as issues associated with 3-D print accuracy and surface roughness are negligibly small for most applications [8]- [10]; the latter improving with metallization.…”

“…This enabling technology has already proven itself with metal-pipe rectangular waveguides (MPRWGs) and associated components. For example, the authors have already demonstrated waveguides using various polymer-based 3-D printing technologies: fused deposition modelling (FDM) at X-band (8 to 12 GHz) [6], [7]; polymer-jetting (PolyJet) at Kuband (12 to 18 GHz) [8]- [10]; stereolithographic apparatus (SLA) at W-band (75 to 110 GHz) [6]; PolyJet in the WM-570 band (325 to 500 GHz) [11]; and RECILS in the WM-380 band (500 to 750 GHz) and WM-250 band (750 GHz to 1.1 THz) [12]. More recently, the authors have also demonstrated the use of FDM, SLA and ultra-low cost masked stereolithographic apparatus (MSLA) in polymerbased 3-D printed G-band (140 to 220 GHz) quasi-optical components and integrated subsystems [13].…”