Design and Analysis of 3D Printed Slotted Waveguides for D-Band Using Stereolithography and Electroless Silver Plating

This work demonstrates the feasibility of entirely additively manufactured slotted waveguides in combination with an electroless silver plating process for applications in the D-Band frequency range. Design rules are adjusted towards the requirements for 110–170 GHz and analyzed with respect to the limitations of conventional desktop SLA- and DLP printers. Measurements obtained in this work reach attenuation levels in the order of 20–35 dB/m, hence comparable to conventionally manufactured waveguides. Furthermore, it is shown, that the electrical behavior of slotted waveguides is similar to a conventional waveguide by comparison with simulation models.