Waveguides are a nearly century-old technology that transmits electromagnetic waves through metal tubes, resulting in much more efficient transmission than alternative methods, such as coaxial cables. Today, waveguides are used in cutting-edge applications such as radar, sonar, and 5G wireless data. Unfortunately, while the uses for waveguides have advanced significantly since their invention, manufacturing processes used to make them have not. 

With support from Northrop Grumman, our group intends to replace the outdated, expensive, and complicated methods used to make waveguides today with additive manufacturing. This has the potential to save time and money, as well as increase the versatility of the manufacturing process, allowing for more detailed and complex waveguide geometries.