Low-Cost and Low-Weight Horn and Reflector Antennas through 3D Printing

TL;DR

This paper explores the design, simulation, and 3D printing of a lightweight, high-performance off-axis reflector antenna with a dielectric rod waveguide, emphasizing rapid manufacturing and portability for wireless communication.

Contribution

It introduces a novel 3D printed off-axis reflector antenna with a dielectric rod waveguide feed, combining lightweight design with effective radiation patterns.

Findings

Successful 3D printing of the antenna prototype

Achieved rotationally symmetric radiation pattern

Demonstrated potential for rapid, low-cost antenna manufacturing

Abstract

The revolution that wireless communication is suffering during the last decades has increased the need for antennas where performances such as lightweight, rapid manufacturing and portability run in parallel with their electric performance. The maker revolution in which 3D printers can help manufacturing customized, high performance, lightweight and rapid manufacturing antennas is a fact to be explored. This paper discusses the design, simulation and 3D printing of an offaxis reflector antenna. The proposed design is composed of a parabolic reflector and an X band circular horn antenna as a feed. By adding a dielectric rod waveguide (DRW) to the feed, a rotationally symmetric radiation pattern, similar to the one with a corrugated horn, is achieved.