Researchers at theUniversity of Sheffieldhave developed 3D printed antennas that can be manufactured faster and more cheaply than current 5G and 6G aerials.
在测试过程中,团队的毫米(mmWave浪潮) devices are said to have demonstrated a radio frequency (RF) performance akin to that of conventionally-produced antennas. In future, it’s thought the aerials could help accelerate the roll-out of 5G and 6G infrastructure, both in the UK, and isolated areas abroad.
谢菲尔德大学无线电频率工程读者埃迪·鲍尔（Eddie Ball）说：“这种3D打印的设计可能是电信行业的游戏规则改变者。”“该设计可用于制作更大范围的天线，因此具有覆盖更多区域并将最快移动网络带到尚未访问的部分地区的能力。”
“ [3D打印]使我们能够以比当前的制造技术更低的成本原型和生产5G和6G网络的天线。”
mmwave天线大修？
根据谢菲尔德的团队，目前用来建立电信网络的天线通常是一个缓慢，昂贵的过程。鉴于它们背后的技术正在发展的速度，研究人员认为，这种制造技术“阻碍创新”，因为它们延迟了原型制作和新基础设施的建设。
To get around this roadblock, the engineers have come up with a new design which can be affordably churned out at a much faster rate, without compromising on end performance. The antenna itself was developed at the英国研究与创新(UKRI)National mmWave Measurement Lab, a cutting-edge British R&D facility.
该综合大楼也位于谢菲尔德，允许行业和学者测试和测量天线，挡板设备和其他射频系统。由价值200万英镑的三个关键设备组成：NSI-MI天线测量系统，Keysight四端口VNA和MPI TS150-THZ WAFER探测站，可以重新调整实验室，以满足研究人员的确切项目需求。
Ultimately, the facility makes it possible to measure antenna performance from 10 GHz up to a range of 110GHz, something the team from Sheffield found “invaluable” in testing. During these experiments, the engineers developed an antenna 3D printing method around silver nanoparticles, which are understood to have ideal properties for RF applications, and have been tested at up to 48 GHz frequencies.
Having conducted range and frequency experiments at the lab, the team went on to map their results via a set of 3D surface plots (pictured below) that compared their device to a conventional aerial. As it turned out, the differences between the antennas’ gain and time domain responses, which indicated the direction and strength of the signal they were able to transmit, were ‘almost indistinguishable.’
鉴于研究人员的3D打印技术使仅几个小时的功能设备仅几个小时就可以创建，因此他们说，它可以为当前航空生产方法提供有吸引力的低成本替代品。对于居住在偏远地区的人，团队还建议他们的3D印刷天线有一天可能有助于带来更强大的手机信号和更快的互联网连接。
The growing frequency of AM antennas
With wireless connectivity now more central to our lives than ever before, the clamour for new, faster ways of transmitting cell signals continues to grow. In recent years, this has led researchers to toy with 3D printing to achieve this, and another UK team has previously developed3D printed 5G MIMO antennasof their own.
在其他地方，工程师在University of Delaware设法创建了signal-bending 3D printed Luneburg lenses, that can connect electronics, sensors or mobile phones. That said, the team is now said to be working with theUS Army, to explore their devices’ defense-related robotics and civilian aerospace applications.
In the commercial sphere,Optomec还提出了一种方法using 3D printing to boost 5G antenna signals. Specifically, the firm has developed a semiconductor solution that involves using 3D printing to integrate millimeter-wave circuits into cell signal emitters, in a way that provides nearby users with an improved cell connection.
要了解最新的3D印刷新闻，请不要忘记订阅3D打印行业newsletter或跟随我们Twitter或喜欢我们的页面Facebook.
While you’re here, why not subscribe to ourYouTubechannel? featuring discussion, debriefs, video shorts and webinar replays.
Are you looking for a job in the additive manufacturing industry? Visit3D Printing Jobsfor a selection of roles in the industry.
Featured image shows the researchers’ 3D printed antennas. Photo via the University of Sheffield.
