Microwave Characterization of Conductive PLA and Its Application to a 12 to 18 GHz 3-D Printed Rotary Vane Attenuator

This paper demonstrates an ultra-light weight microwave rotary vane attenuator (RVA) manufactured using polymer-based 3-D printing. In addition, for the first time, conductive polylactic acid (PLA) is rigorously characterized across both X- and Ku-bands (8 to 18 GHz); while acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene (ABS) has similarly been Ku-band (12 GHz). Using results from PLA characterization process, electromagnetic model was created predicting performance of RVA. It shown that, even with its complex internal geometrical features, a mix dielectric building materials, assembly multiple parts mechanically rotating central section, our experimental proof-of-concept prototype RVA exhibits excellent measured Ku-band. tunable control device represents higher-level functionality additive manufacturing, when compared fixed (i.e., non-movable) printed structure, opening way other groups routinely print custom components subsystems in not too distant future.