Link Microtek, based in England, has introduced a new design and production service aimed at customers who need to source replacements for RF or microwave components that have become obsolete but are still critical to present operations.
With many years’ experience in RF and microwave engineering, the company is able to recreate parts with the same form, fit and function as an existing product, working either from specifications, drawings and photographs or directly from a damaged part if the original design information has been lost.
In these instances, accurate measurements of the external and internal features of a product are entered into the CST Microwave Studio modelling program, which enables Link Microtek to derive specifications such as operating frequency and return loss, as well as working out the best way to fabricate the part.
For example, some RF and microwave components now in the field were originally produced by casting, but recreating them in this way would be uneconomical for only one or two units, so the general approach is to machine them from solid aluminium, followed by dip-brazing.
Once the parts have been made, they are then fully tested at up to 40 GHz in Link Microtek’s own test and environmental laboratories, if necessary using specially designed and manufactured test fixtures. For high-power products, an in-house facility allows testing at up to 200 W CW over the frequency range 7 – 16 GHz. Each product is supplied with full mechanical drawings, electrical layouts, test specifications and test results.
The new obsolescence service is available not only for individual components but also for complete systems comprising RF and microwave elements such as couplers, power dividers, waveguides, filters, terminations, rotary joints and semi-rigid cables, as well as electrical switching, fans and thermal control.
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