Miniaturization of microwave components and antennas using 3D manufacturing

3D multi-material additive manufacturing has promising potential to improve the performance and form factor of microwave and electromagnetic components. The ability to design and produce truly 3D form factors can lead to smaller volume and better performing antennas, allow the combining of different materials to optimize and reduce the weight of distributed circuit designs, and cost effectively produce structural electronic systems. Along with these new capabilities come increased needs for material choices, innovative methods for materials characterization, and changes in the CAD tools that are used for design. These challenges, along with examples of 3D RF design with additive manufacturing are given in this paper.