3D Printing of Antenna Conductive Elements through Fused Filament Techniques

Chietera F. P.;Casula G. A.;Colella R.;Montisci G.;Muntoni G.;Catarinucci L.

2022-01-01

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Abstract

3D printing technologies are becoming more and more appealing to easily realize prototypal devices, even in the field of the electromagnetic applications. In this framework, fused filament fabrication is one of the most used because of its cost effectiveness, but recently, even for the novel possibility of printing both dielectric and conductive elements, by using new 3D-printable nanocomposite filaments with inclusions of conductive particles. Nevertheless, a lot of possible criticalities can be experimented by the electromagnetic engineer who try to successfully exploit this technology for the described purpose. For this reason, in this paper a real case study has been deeply described, analyzing different possible strategies to develop an effective and working antenna prototype, using the so called Electrififilament. This work aims to be a brief but detailed guide to the interested reader who needs to achieve a successful print, realizing a working 3D-printed device.