Advancements in Additively Manufactured Radio Frequency Connectors

Due to recent growth in additive manufacturing (AM) technology, engineers can fabricate affordable and versatile antennas; however, poorly matched antenna connections and terminations continue to limit the capabilities of AM antennas. There have been several advances in the design and testing of AM radio frequency (RF) connectors to replace the standard components of the shelf (COTS) connectors. In this paper, an overview of the methods and types of connections for integrated AM antennas using AM technology is provided. The ability to seamlessly integrate the RF connector with the AM antennas or microwave circuits offers tremendous advantages including reduced cost, complexity, and flexibility.