3D metal printed monocone antenna with an integrated feed

In this research, a 3D monocone antenna for wideband applications, with an integrated N-type feed, is created via Additive Manufacturing (AM). AM permits the production of complex RF components with ease, in this case in realizing both the monocone structure and the integrated feed. Integrating the feed as part of the antenna reduces the assembly required for operation and is of benefit, especially if the antenna is either difficult to manufacture or difficult to attach to the feeding circuitry, due to its geometry or dimensions, for example in the case of spiral or fractal antennae. The antenna was fabricated using the Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) technique from Maraging Steel, MS1, on an EOSINT M280. The measured results for the 3D printed antenna are found to be in a good agreement with the simulation results. The radiation pattern over a specified field of view along with the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) values less than 2 was measured over the wide band of 4.6-8.2 GHz.