Travelling Wave Tube Fabrication (TWT Fab)

Radio frequency

TWT Fab is the distributed laboratory for sub-THz Travelling Wave Tube fabrication and sub-THz engineering for novel applications.

Our Travelling Wave Tube (TWT) Fabrication Laboratory features many state-of-the-art facilities. A TWT is a specialised vacuum tube that is used in electronics to amplify radio frequency signals in the microwave range. The TWT belongs to a category of "linear beam" tubes, such as the klystron, in which the radio wave is amplified by absorbing power from a beam of electrons as it passes down the tube.

We aim for breakthroughs in travelling wave tube, antennas, and RF Engineering technology at sub-THz frequencies (70 - 300 GHz) for enabling novel long-range ultra-high capacity wireless networks for 5G and 6G concepts.

The marvel of microfabrication

This video explores the double corrugated waveguide that is the core of the 71-76 GHz Travelling Wave Tube fabrication phase. The outstanding microfabrication of this complex part - undertaken by two experts in TWT fabrication - is described in the video.

sub-THz Travelling Wave Tube technology

The magnet and vacuum testing equipment

Distributed Laboratory

Our Distributed Laboratory had facilities for all stages of TWT manufacture:

  • Fabrication- CNC milling, CNC lathe, electroforming, LIGA
  • Assembly - Diffusion bonding, laser welding, brazing, TIG welding
  • Conditioning - Vacuum pumping, cathode conditioning, baking
  • Testing - Vacuum leakage, magnetic field measurements, magnetizer, voltage testing, beam transmission testing, Vector Network analyser
Mazak VCN430A 

High Precision Manufacturing Unit

The High Precision Manufacturing Unit (HPMU) is equipped for the most challenging fabrication work with accuracy better than 5 microns. The HPMU includes conventional CNC milling machines with specific tools for high precision, high accuracy and high surface finishing of parts.

Equipment in this unit includes:

  • Mazak VCN430A
  • XYZ 750 CNC Milling with air spindle 50000 rpm
  • XYZ 500
  • HASS ST10
  • XYZ Protun RLX 1630
IPG Laser on ABB robotic arm

High Precision Micro Welding Unit

The High Precision Micro–Welding Unit (HPMWU) for micromechanical manufacturing to support research, SMEs and specialistic training. The LMWU aims to provide the most advanced processes for microwelding, such as diffusion bonding, brazing, continuous and pulsed laser welding, and induction brazing.

Equipment in this unit includes:

  • Tabletop pulsed laser
  • Induction Brazing 10kW
  • 2kW IPG Laser on ABB robotic arm
  • Multigas high-temperature furnace
A vector analyser

Microwave and Millimetre Wave Lab

Our high-power microwave laboratory provides an array of well-established facilities that are fully operative for research in the field of low-frequency vacuum tube and microwave components. A full set of equipment is available (ZVA40 Vector Network Analyzer (4 ports, 10MHz-40GHz), scalar network analysers, spectrum analyser, power meter, frequency generator, and ZVA-Z110 Frequency converter (WR10 75GHz to 110GHz).

Horizon 2020 Projects

TWEETHER

The H2020 TWEETHER project required us to build the fastest wireless outdoor network in the world in order to keep up with global data demand.

TWEETHER

H2020 TWEETHER put Europe at the forefront of millimetre wave communications.

ULTRAWAVE

The H2020 ULTRAWAVE project aims to develop technologies that permit 5G and 6G connections.