The manufacture of microwave plate reflector antennas by employing the improved superplasticity hydraulic forming method

An improved method, superplasticity hydraulic forming (SPHF), is developed to study the manufacture of microwave plate reflectors. A single mold is required only in this system because the upper mold can be omitted. This will solve mold-fitting problems and improve reflector surface qualities. Results show the antennal performance of SPHF reflectors were better than that of antennas produced by the methods previously developed. It means the SPHF techniques possess many excellent superplasticity features, such as precise shape, symmetry, accurate dimension, better surface roughness, and less creases or cracks. This method also has been verified that the SPHF can be employed to produce microwave plate reflectors made of aluminum alloy.