3-Boyutlu Baskı Tekniği ile Hafif ve Portatif Bir Horn Anten Gerçekleştirilmesi

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, ISM uygulamalarında kullanılabilen frekanslardan biri olan 5.8GHz merkez frekansına sahip bir horn anten tasarımı ve gerçekleştirilmesi yapılmıştır. Literatürdeki ve piyasadaki mevcut çalışmalara getirilen yenilik ise, tasarlanan ve benzetime tabi tutulan horn anten geometrisinin 3-boyutlu baskı tekniği ile içerisinde karbon nanotüp parçacıklar bulunan iletken filament kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiş olmasıdır. Bu sayede, standart metalik muadil antenlere nazaran çok daha hafif bir anten elde edilmiştir. Ayrıca, metalik gövdeli antenlere göre 3-boyutlu baskı tekniği ile daha hızlı ve pratik bir şekilde üretilmiştir. Planlanan antenin geometrik ölçüleri öncelikle bir yazılım vasıtasıyla tasarlanmıştır. Daha sonra ise 5.8GHz merkez frekansını sağlayacak şekilde antenin ışıma elemanının boyutu optimize edilmiştir. Tasarlanan antenin bu merkez frekansını sağladığı elektromanyetik benzetimler yoluyla doğrulanmıştır. Daha sonra ise tasarlanan anten geometrisi 3-boyutlu çizim programı ile çizilerek baskıya hazır hale getirilmiştir. Bu anten, iletken karbon nanotüp içeren PLA filamenti ile Ultimaker baskı makinesinde üretilmiştir. Antenin ışıma elemanı ile SMA konnektörü ise bir sonraki adımda takılmış ve anten hazır hale getirilmiştir. Üretilen piramidal horn antenin istenilen frekans bandında çalıştığı vektör devre analizörü ile yapılan ölçümler neticesinde gösterilmiştir. Baskı alınan anten, herhangi bir ek kaplama veya iletken spreye gerek duymadan, karbon nanotüp içeren PLA filament sayesinde istenilen frekans karakteristiğini göstermiştir. Üretilen anten, PLA filament sayesinde SMA konnektör ve ışıma elemanı dahil olmak üzere sadece 64.53 gram ağırlığına sahiptir. Özellikle hafif ve mobil savunma ve haberleşme teknolojilerindeki gelişmeler ve ihtiyaçlar göz önünde bulundurulduğunda, 3-boyutlu olarak üretilen bu tip hafif antenlerin geniş bir kullanım potansiyelinin olabileceği değerlendirilmiştir.

Keywords

• Horn anten
• iletken filament
• elektromanyetik benzetim
• anten tasarımı.
• 3-boyutlu baskı

Implementation of a Lightweight and Portable Horn Antenna Using 3-D Printing Technology

Abstract

In this study, a horn antenna operating at 5.8GHz centre frequency, which is an ISM operating frequency, is de-signed and manufactured. The novelty of the antenna is that it is produced using a 3D printer with a conductive filament containing carbon nanotube particles. The geometric dimensions of the antenna were calculated by means of an antenna design software. Then, the size of the radiating element of the antenna was optimized to set the centre frequency to 5.8GHz. It has been verified by electromagnetic simulations that the designed antenna exhibits this centre frequency. Then, the designed antenna geometry was sketched in a 3-dimensional drawing program and made ready for printing. This antenna was fabricated on an Ultimaker 3D printer with a PLA fila-ment containing conductive carbon nanotubes. The radiation element of the antenna and the SMA connector were finally attached to the printed antenna. The frequency response of the antenna is then measured using a vector network analyser and it has been shown that the produced pyramidal horn antenna works in the desired frequency band. The printed antenna has the desired frequency characteristic without the need for any additional coating or conductive spray thanks to the PLA filament containing conductive carbon nanotubes. The produced antenna has a weight of only 64.53 grams, including the SMA connector and the radiation element. The proposed lightweight and practical horn antenna design concept may have important applications considering the advances and needs of mobile defence and telecommunication systems.

Keywords

• Horn antenna
• conductive filament
• electromagnetic simulation
• antenna design.
• 3D printing

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