Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHRDevelopment and Fast Analysis of 3D Printed HF Components
3D printing is becoming increasingly important for the development of modern high frequency systems as it opens up new design possibilities. Fraunhofer FHR is exploring these possibilities for its customers and partners: from designing new HF components to testing these components. Engineers are inspecting the quality of components manufactured using additive processes with their high frequency transmitted light imaging system SAMMI®, e.g. to verify the correct density gradients of the material. As a member of the Forschungsfabrik Mikroelektronik Deutschland, they will present this system at the Hannover Messe in hall 2, booth C22, from April 23 to 27, 2018.
Compact, affordable, and optimized for specific applications – 3D printing is extremely flexible when it comes to setting the electromagnetic properties of new high frequency systems. One way to achieve this is through the different density distribution of the print material when the component is manufactured using additive processes. These are able to accurately build even the finest of structures, pushing the boundaries of conventional production processes and allowing for completely new HF component designs optimized for individual applications.
One challenge this poses is controlling the quality of the components manufactured using 3D printing technology. In particular, until now, it has been nearly impossible to show the permeability of the manufactured material to high frequency signals. Therefore, Fraunhofer FHR has adapted its high frequency transmitted light system SAMMI® (Stand Alone MilliMeter wave Imager) for the analysis of 3D printed structures. SAMMI® scans materials and their density distributions, verifying them quickly and reliably. In doing so, SAMMI® not only creates a visualization of the gradients in the material but also makes it easy to detect manufacturing defects. The system is compact, transportable and flexible in its use. Visitors at the Hannover Messe will have a chance to convince themselves of the system on site using material samples.
The SAMMI® measurement and inspection system was developed at Fraunhofer FHR for the scanning of packaged goods in industrial quality control. The system uses millimeter waves to detect differences in materials, the slightest of contaminations, or inhomogeneities in packaged products without contact or ionizing radiation. This results in a versatile field of application for the high frequency scanner. For instance, SAMMI®, has already been used as the basis for the development of food inspection or mail bomb detection scanners.
Fraunhofer FHR together with six other member institutes of the Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics presents the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (FMD) at this year’s Hannover Trade Fair. The Fraunhofer FHR demonstrates the technology competence within the FMD in the field of Heterointegration.
Within the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (FMD), eleven institutes in the Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics cooperate with the Ferdinand- Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik and IHP GmbH - Innovations for High Performance Microelectronics in order to offer their customers a comprehensive and simpler access to the next generation of technology. The Research Fab Microelectronics Germany is the largest cross-site R&D cooperation for micro and nanoelectronics in Europe and offers the world’s largest systems pool for technologies and intellectual property rights within the field of smart systems.