Can metal 3D printing be used in the manufacture of radar antennas? And which materials are best?
Can metal 3D printing be used in the manufacture of radar antennas? And which materials are best?
Nordic Radar Solutions investigated this in a MADE Materials Demonstration project, where they received help from specialists from the Danish Technological Institute to evaluate materials and get started using AM technologies to achieve greater design freedom and thus better products.
The company manufactures, designs and sells advanced radar systems for both military and civilian customers, and the demonstration project has given them concrete benefits:
We can manufacture even better radar antennas and at a cheaper price than with more conventional production technologies, including for example wire EDM
Torsten Leth Elmkjær, CEO/CTO, Nordic Radar Solutions
The Danish Technological Institute helped the SME investigate two challenges: Can we use metal 3D printing in production? And which material is best suited?
“It turned out that we could use a coating of aluminum that consists of 10 percent silicon,” explains Lasse Haahr-Lillevang, consultant at the Danish Technological Institute.
MADE demonstration project
With a MADE Demonstration project, a small or medium-sized company can receive up to DKK 100,000 in support to solve a specific challenge in the company or test a new technology in production.
MADE has two different demonstration projects: (1) Manufacturing demonstration projects, which focus on the actual manufacturing process, and (2) materials demonstration projects, which put materials-related manufacturing challenges centre stage. The expertise of the specialists attached to the project will vary depending on which type of project you choose. However, in all other respects, the conditions are the same for both project types.
It does not cost anything to participate in a demonstration project – all you invest is your time.
Demonstration projects are open for applications four times a year.
The four deadlines are: 1 March, 1 June, 1 September and 1 December.
