Title: The application of micro-milling technology in the processing of micro-strip antenna

Authors: Xinxin Wang; Xiaohong Lu; Zhenyuan Jia; Guangjun Li; Wenyi Wu

Addresses: Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, DaLian, China ' Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, DaLian, China ' Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, DaLian, China ' Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, DaLian, China ' Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, DaLian, China

Abstract: The main objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of machining the copper layer for micro-strip antenna with micro-milling technology and to find the optimal machining parameters. The main properties of the micro-strip antenna are related to the geometry accuracy of the copper layer attached to the dielectric substrate surface. In this paper, micro-milling technology is utilised to machine the copper layer for microstrip antenna. The milling process is divided into two steps: roughing and finishing milling. The influence of the micro-milling cutting parameters on the geometry quality of copper is investigated. The results show that micro-milling of copper layer on polyimide is feasible, reasonable micro-milling cutting parameters can improve the processing efficiency, ameliorate the surface quality and extend the tools' life. The main contribution of this paper to the related literature is to provide a new method to machining the copper layer for micro-strip antenna.

Keywords: micromilling; micromachining; micro-strip antenna; polyimide; surface copper layer; roughing milling; finishing milling; cutting parameters; surface quality; tool life; spindle speed; feed rate; cutting depth; burr size; warping degree; slot width.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2015.070082

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2015 Vol.51 No.1, pp.44 - 59

Accepted: 29 Dec 2014
Published online: 26 Jun 2015 *

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