Industry Days - Additive Manufacturing for RF/Microwave hardware

RF performances evaluations on microwave devices made in additive manufacturing (THALES COMMUNICATIONS & SECURITY)

22 Nov 2016, 10:05

25m

NA052 -Erasmus Conference Room (ESA/ESTEC)

Speakers

Dr FRIEDMAN TCHOFFO TALOM (THALES COMMUNICATIONS & SECURITY)Mr SIMON TURPAULT (THALES COMMUNICATIONS & SECURITY)

Description

Radiofrequencies parts have been identified by TCS as one of the most interesting applications for additive manufacturing. Indeed, these technologies could allow to: • Decrease dramatically delivery time : from several months with traditional processes to few days • Make one-piece part instead of assembly of several parts, allowing remove of interfaces which could cause dB losses. Nevertheless, the additive manufacturing technologies lead to defaults like high roughness and dimensional imperfections. TCS designed several RF elements (waveguides, filters, etc) in several radiofrequency band (X, Ku, Ka). These one have been additive manufactured in aluminum and titanium materials then analyzed. Moreover, different surface treatments have been applied to see their influence on performances. These tests highlight that : • To date, RF metallic additive manufactured parts are not able to reach performances get with parts made by traditional process in high frequencies bands (Ka band and more). • Adapted surface treatments have to be developed for complex internal designs, in order to improve surface electrical conductivity on the one hand, and to decrease surface roughness on the other hand. Please see attached file for more details.

JUSTIFICATION FOR THE CONSIDERATION

Tests carried out by Thales Communications & Security (TCS) are exactly targeted by this workshop. The goal of this presentation is to exchange results and to show our tests procedures in order to share benefits and limits of these devices made by this new technologies today. TCS aims at initiating potential new collaborations related to the research axis : surface treatments of internal cavities for example in order to improve surface roughness and electrical conductivity. TCS thinks that every company or institutes have an interest to share works done in this field.