Implementing a Prototype of a Short-Backfire Antenna Using Additive Manufacturing

This paper presents the implementation of a waveguide-fed short backfire (SBF) antenna prototype using additive manufacturing techniques (also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing). The prototyping technique is a two-step process. First, a 3D printing technique was used to construct a lightweight plastic material prototype with Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). Second, the prototype was coated with conductive nickel paint. The antenna was simulated and tested to verify its performance. The weight of the 3D printed SBF antenna was measured to be about 30% of the original aluminum design (70% reduction in mass).