On The Use of 3D Printing Technique for 5G mmWave Antenna Development

This paper discusses the use of additive manufacturing technology, more commonly known as 3D printing, in the fabrication of antennas for fifth-generation (5G) communications in the millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum. The 3D printing technology holds great promise in the manufacturing of radio frequency (RF)/microwave components and is particularly suitable for producing mmWave components such as antennas. Here, the proposed antenna takes a rectangular patch with the dielectric substrate made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material and manufactured using 3D printing technique Whilst its conductive parts are coated by nickel conductive paint. Measurement results indicate that the manufactured antenna can operate within the frequency range of 24.6 GHz to 27.8 GHz with the maximum gain of 4.4 dBi.