AA-mid design for construction

1
AA-mid design for construction
The project SKA Noord-Nederland is
collaboration between ASTRON, Major, Neways,
Isiterra and ST. SKA-NN is supported by
subsidies from the EC/EFRO program and the
Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland (SNN) Koers
Noord program, and from the Province of Drenthe
and Groningen.

• Raymond vandenBrink

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Overview

• Antenna concepts
• Various
• W-Plates
• Quad Modules
• Housing concepts
• Vacuhouse
• Rotohouse
• Continuing Array
• Tile and Station design

The project SKA Noord-Nederland is
collaboration between ASTRON, Major, Neways,
Isiterra and ST. SKA-NN is supported by
subsidies from the EC/EFRO program and the
Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland (SNN) Koers
Noord program, and from the Province of Drenthe
and Groningen.
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Antenna

• AAVP

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ANTENNA CONCEPTS

• Various concepts judged on
• Performance
• Reliability
• Cost

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POTENTIAL CONCEPTS
W shaped plates
QUAD modules

• TWO potential directions

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Antenna concept WplatesASTRON-RP-441_AAVS
concept antenna Wplates.doc

• No or less profiles (EMBRACE)
• Connection by clinching
• Less parts
• ---? Less labor, less time, lower cost

• Selfsupporting
• Thinner
• ---? Less material, lower cost

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Antenna concept WplatesASTRON-RP-441_AAVS
concept antenna Wplates.doc

• First prototypes to test
• Shape
• Production possibility
• Assembly
• Stiffness (different thicknesses)
• (0,6 0,8 1,0mm)

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Antenna concept WplatesASTRON-RP-441_AAVS
concept antenna Wplates.doc

• Second prototype includes
• Features to hold feedboard
• Cutting strategy to maintain shape
• Connection options for testing (ongoing)

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Antenna concept WplatesASTRON-RP-441_AAVS
concept antenna Wplates.doc

• Support broken after assembly
• Proto cost per element 13,00 Euro
• Final cost per element 0,90 Euro
• -Based on quotations 2011-

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Antenna concept WplatesASTRON-RP-441_AAVS
concept antenna Wplates.doc

• Under investigation
• Connection between tiles

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Antenna concept QUAD ModulesASTRON-RP-XXX_AAVS
concept antenna QUAD Modules.doc

• No profiles (EMBRACE)
• Connection by clinching
• Less parts
• Better manageable parts
• ---? Less labor, less time, lower cost

• Selfsupporting
• Thinner
• ---? Less material, lower cost

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Antenna concept QUAD ModulesASTRON-RP-XXX_AAVS
concept antenna QUAD Modules.doc
QM1

• QUAD Modules (QM)
• QM1 experiment with profiles
• QM2 experiment with flexible edges
• QM3 experiment with clamps

QM2
QM3
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Antenna concept QUAD ModulesASTRON-RP-XXX_AAVS
concept antenna QUAD Modules.doc

• QM2 tested
• Mechanical unstable
• Bad connection
• Possible solution under investigation
• Proto Cost per element 25,00 Euro
• Final Cost per element 0,80

• QM3 still to be tested

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Housing

• AAVP SKA-NN

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Housing concept VacuhouseASTRON-RP-436_AAVS
concept housing Vacuhouse.doc

• Parts of 3m x 1.5m possible
• Tiles of 3m x 3m possible
• 180,- / m² possible (for 2000m²)
• Made by vacuum forming

• Limited in size / No continuing antenna
• Less integrated features possible
• Required module size still unknown
• Suitable for small series

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Housing concept VacuhouseASTRON-RP-436_AAVS
concept housing Vacuhouse.doc
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Housing concept RotohouseASTRON-RP-437_AAVS
concept housing Rotohouse.doc

• Max 4m diameter possible
• More detailled features possible
• Accuracy of mould
• High freedom in design
• 90,- / m² possible (for 2000m²)
• Water gutter integrated

• Limited in size / No continuing antenna
• Made by rotational molding

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Housing concept RotohouseASTRON-RP-437_AAVS
concept housing Rotohouse.doc
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Housing concept Continuing ArrayASTRON-RP-XXX_A
AVS concept housing ContinuingArray.doc (tbr)

• Connects diagonal oriented vivaldis in orthogonal
  direction
• Infinitely expandable
• Edges can be closed
• No corner pieces needed

• Assembly in desert required
• Smaller unit ? more labor
• Made by injection molding (most parts)

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Housing concept Continuing ArrayASTRON-RP-XXX_A
AVS concept housing ContinuingArray.doc (tbr)

• Useable for small and large configurations
• Water gutter integrated
• Support pole also guides water
• To be prototyped beginning 2012

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Tile and station DESIGN

• AAVP SKA-NN

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TILE
Cover
Vivaldi
Pole
Support
Side
Combi board
OCTA board
Centerboard
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SUPPORT

• Injection molded makes integration possible
• Features to fix PCBs
• Features to fix tiles
• Features to fix antennae

• Injection molding
• PP or ABS

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CENTRE and COMBIBOARD
Centreboard placed, Combiboards attached.
Combiboard fixed.
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OCTABOARDS
OCTAboards placed
OCTAboard fixed
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GROUNDPLANE

• Pre-shaped groundplane
• Features for contact with other tiles
• Holes for connectors
• Holes for antenna mounting

• Lasercut or stamped
• Aluminium thin sheet (0,3mm)

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VIVALDIS
Vivaldis placed in groups of four

• Lasercut or stamped
• Aluminium sheet (less than 1mm)
• Clinched in groups of four
• Fixed at bottom

Vivaldis go through support and are being fixed
at the bottom.
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COVER and POLES
Cover placed on top

• Injection molding or vacuum forming.
• PP or PE

Poles to support the cover both when used in the
middle of a station or at the edge. Also to close
the corners.

• Extrusion or injection molding
• PP or ABS, perhaps PVC (common in extrusion)

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(expandable) MODULE

• -Injection molding or vacuumforming
• PP or PE

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ARRAY of FOUR CONNECTED
Tiles are connected by snap feature. Connection
in diagonal direction.
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STATION

• Station layout non-continuous
• No assembly outdoors
• Maintenance / replacement easier
• Enough space for water (rain)
• Testable units

• Station layout continuous
• All elements connected
• Small units
• Assembly partly in the field
• Replacement almost impossible

Both scenarios under investigation
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Thank you