A little explainer... First, apologies for any mono audio sections. I am deaf in one ear so I sometimes miss mixing errors! Too late to fix it now, but please let me know the times when the stereo mix is wrong. RF is just low frequency light. It behaves in a similar way to light being refracted and reflected. The effects scale with wavelength, but you can get exactly the same effects in mirrors, blocks of transparent (to light or RF) material, lenses and waveguides (or light fibres) with RF and light or infra-red. The scale difference is huge. Light is around 0.5 of a micrometre wavelength, microwaves are a few centimetres, AM radio is perhaps 300 metres wavelength. They can all be treated as waves or as photons, and quantum mechanics applies just the same to them all. When you put a pencil in a fishtank, it seems to bend. That same refraction happens with radio waves, they travel more slowly in dielectrics than in a vacuum because of the quantum effects, but that doesn't matter for large objects like these. A slanting dielectric surface can bend the rays of light or radio energy. If the slanted surface is in the shape of a curved magnifying glass, the amount of bending varies across the glass, with more bending at the edges, so a parallel beam of light like from the Sun gets focussed to a point. Exactly the same happens with radio waves so long as the glass is more than ten wavelengths across and the source is emitting radio waves. You might want to use PTFE or a similar RF-transparent plastic to make the lens as it's much clearer than glass at millimetre wavelengths. At Infra red around 10 micrometres wavelength, Germanium metal lenses work well as they are transparent to IR, as is Calcium Fluoride. OK, so we are half way. Now instead of making the lens shaped like a magnifying glass, we can change the density of the material by putting larger holes (or more holes) in it to reduce its average density, varying that density across the body of the material. If you pick the rate of change of density just right, the effect on mmWave energy is indistinguishable from that of the original magnifying glass shape, but it's way easier to make and mount. You can also do really complex tapers of density that would be impossible to machine. That's the benefit of this technology, it takes us way beyond what can be done with casting, injection moulding, electroforming, laser cutting, water jets, Wire EDM or CNC machining, at least for ceramic-filled photopolymers. Explaining the smaller lens is rather more complicated as it involves waveguides!

THIS is how sponsored videos should be done. Make it clear right within the first 2 minutes of the video instead of sneaking it in at the last 30 seconds like some channels have done (as has come to light recently)

This is hyperencabulator levels of jargon, but it all actually means something! Quite a workout for the old brain to keep up with you on this one!

It's always the small youtubers that surprise me with how much access they have to projects and tests like these.

I basically don't know anything at all whatsoever about anything related to RF, and yet, it's fascinating stuff. In maybe 10 years time some of your videos will start making sense to me.

Absolutely NO idea what's happening but still watched the entire video. Love seeing new tech and smart people talking about stuff they are passionate about. Hope this new tech can make advancements in the fields being discussed. Thankyou for this video 😊

I have never in my life heard such an epic tour-de-force of uninterrupted jargon! Congratulations!

For an "amateur," you certainly sound like you have a great understanding of microwave antennas and techniques. Better than many engineers!

3d printing really is a game changer, not ideal for mass production but for more specialist stuff like this they really shine

Good on them for hosting and sponsoring you. Its great to see businesses embrace content creators. If I had a reason to use this company, I definitely would because of this video.

As an inventive entrepreneur, the very first 2 minutes of your video blessed my heart. If only half the people in this world were half as nice as you, I'd be alot more enthusiastic. But the ones who succeed are the best and the sweetest, the most reasonable.

Such a relief to read the comments and see that I'm not the only one watching this and feeling like some ancient Anunnaki language is being used to describe these magical devices.

You may not be a RF engineer but you sure know a whole heck of a lot about RF stuff. Volumes more than I do to say the least. But all in all the technology looks like it has the potential to change the way antennas are designed. Also the production quality of the video was absolutely stellar. Very well done.

Omg !! my bachelor thesis was producing 3d antennas on plastic surfaces (but it was a layer deposition over an already existing surface) for plastronics so this is really interesting to me :)

I am an live audio engineer who thought that I had a good understanding of RF thanks to our use of RF in the (dwindling) UHF band. I would consider myself to be a nerd, and above the average in intelligence; but this video made me feel down stupid. Thank you for that.

My dad was a radio, TV, LANSAT, Radar and Missile guidance tech in the USAF. When he retired, he worked fr M.A.R.S. ans the A.R.R.L. and taught me intensively about these issues, and I continue to hold interest in it, despite not having a super perfect education in microelectroincs.

I worked with antennas and waveguides in the US military; I didn't get to design them or understand how they were designed though. I did know that antenna tech was some of the fastest changing technology out there, but couldn't understand how. It's awesome to be enlightened.

I understood every word spoken during this fascinating RF presentation. (Former radar trained navy vet.)

I definitely understand exactly what you’re talking about. But even if I don’t, I’m learning from listening to your expertise. Thanks for putting this highly precise and detailed article out here. Love you.

Fantastic timing i literally fell asleep at 2am reading about 3d printed waveguides and lens's and woke up to this! Great content, i look forward to part II.

Wow thanks rogers and thanks for making all of this cool tech available!!!

I've definitely had some idle thoughts about 3d printing fractal antennae and what dopants to add to the substrate, in recent years; but never actually researched it (too much curiosity💚, too many unfinished shiny projects!😅💙🤔). I'm glad I found this video 1st, it certainly answered some questions. You're work is inspiring to me, and it's so great that Roger's collaborated with you at all; and the the engineers you interviewed seemed super competent. Also, your 3rd party assisted insightful self deprecation resonates with me personally...::😂

Just found your channel and as an engineer working on UAS this was eye opening and fascinating. Some good possibilities here for integration.

I watched the whole thing without having a clue as to what it is about at the start. Very informative. Thank you.

So cool, blows my mind this is possible! Would love to see more on RF lenses

Glad to see you have a sponsor, Niel Hopefully this will open new avenues for you (even if it is additive rather than machining)

This video feels like I'm reading research papers. I have to study up on vocabulary and scientific concepts. That might take me the better part of 3 - 6 months before I understood what is going on. Fantastic stuff. Truly.

Buster Keaton clip about "how I expect this to go" was funny as hell :D

Always exciting to hear news in the industry!

after witnessing the race to the bottom in the home 3d-printing market, I felt some sense of offense towards the field as a whole. However this video has given me hope and reassurance that significant progress forward has been made regarding additive manufacturing in this time, even if not yet on the consumer scale. Thank you

This is making me think of the old radar used for the Safeguard (now retired) ABM system. The 'acquisition' radar still used today is phased array but the multi component 'targeting tracking' radar used an expanded polystyrene impregnated with metallic particles. I think some internal paperwork from The Bell System called it _radar lensing._ The shape, size and arrangement was _highly classified_ but it made it possible to 'hit a bullet with a bullet' and it came down to near miraculous radar resolution for the very early 1970s.

Thank you for this brilliant video showcasing something new which can be done at the cutting edge of 3D printing. This sort of inspiring technical content is exceedingly rare, but hugely important for seeding the inquisitive minds which will be solving our problems in the future. BRAVO!

This video was absolutely engaging! Being a diesel mechanic and just playing with small hobby electronics, i only ever learned the very basics of how RF works. Even with my very limited knowledge I watched through the whole video and found myself in awe of all the cool and cutting edge stuff being shown. Of course i have almost no idea how any of this works but definitely found my next subject im going to study in my free time. So interesting and such a well put together video!

Rogers is a good brand. This is pretty dope and can respect the collaboration. Thank you for your time sir.

Awesome!! This must be ultra efficient and will probably save lives one day!

This video made me so excited although I’m just a simple construction manager guy, I do live in the Phoenix, Arizona area so I paused the video to see if Rogers Corporation has any openings for anything that would get me in there. Bottle washer, floor sweeper, I don’t care. Now I know why material science engineering and electrical engineering majors next door at Arizona State University in Tempe say they feel like sports stars being courted by competing teams. With Intel, TSMC, Motorola, Rogers Corporation and so many others here it’s got to be stunningly exciting to be a new graduating engineer here.

I have been thinking about using acoustic lenses (which basically are the same idea but for sound) for improving the performance of horn speakers. Most people seem to either accept horns with their flaws or reject them entirely. Few people seem interested in improving horns. Maybe I will be able to leverage this technology someday.

The Loctite branded UV curer was unexpected.

I love how transparent you were with the aid received making the video, integrity should never be for sale.

I know some of the words you use, have barely any knowledge of the order you put them in and don't know what your design does (besides the obvious). But KZfaq thought "hey, you are interested in 3d printing, right? That's for you". I'm loving it. I love when people are that invested in things they do and I love to see how it comes to life. And after having worked for Keysight for some years (developed software, I don't know anything about the products) I like to see them, it always gives me some kind of 'I somewhat helped with that'-feeling. That's all, just wanted to share my feelings ❤

My goodness! The possible military application of this just chils my bone. But small rocketry will also benefit by a large margin.

Having spent my formative years in telecoms, I understood nearly all the words in this video. Things became a bit trickier once they’d all be strung together into sentences. I once upset the the man responsible for the microwave backbone network in the north east of England by telling him there was no place for microwave links in the telecoms core network of the future. And that was before anyone had invented dense wavelength-division multiplexing.

This is a fantastic channel. Hats off to you good sir! You are very much appreciated, consider this my thank you letter for all your hard work to share this knowledge. Cheers

As an RF engineer, this video is pretty great!

I loved the cake analogy. I'm afraid to say my Mums New Year cherry cake always has the fruit at the bottom. Great work Neil. I can see how much went into producing that piece.

This feels like it’s in a similar level to the discovery and implementation of phased array transmitters. I admittedly know little about RF my focus is more nuclear energy but I can grasp some of the concepts

oh my god, this is awesome!! so happy i just stumbled over your channel

Great video, very interesting interview with the 3D printing company staff. Kept me glue to the screen the entire time.

This just solidified my opinion that RF engineering is black magic.

Could you imagine your phone case being printed as an awesome antenna

Very interesting. The possibilities this type of resign opens are amazing.

I didn't understand a single word but was fascinated all the way through. Whatever was being discussed it looks and sounds very impressive

Ouu this is super interesting I've been looking into generative antennas and having a material like this would be amazing! I'm aslo imagining embed antennas that would never have worked before

3D printers have definitely provided more opportunities for the range of metamaterials designs. Super awesome! Hadn't thought about all the variables and really nothing more than the range of structure opportunities and electroplating for some fractal antenna designs I was wondering about like spiral conical and discone like. Otherwise, I've wondered about for Faraday Cage Anechoic Chamber systems linings... areas of opportunity for improvement. Now I'm wondering about magnetics... though that's more low frequency stuff... though maybe HF transformer design maybe? Beyond me and my budget... as well (sick) as handlers wishes, wills and wants. Jelous creature on this side of the pond in some juris. Really awesome topic!

You've earned a new subscriber, very well done! This has unimaginably huge implications for the immediate future!

You’re so lucky! I’m so happy for you. Smashed the video as well 👏🏽👍🏽

As awesome as all of this looks and sounds: Could you maybe explain, for us interested non-RF-wizards, how these lenses and antennae differ from traditional ones, and what new funky stuff they allow doing compared to beamforming and phased arrays?

Could this be used for VHF/UHF antennas?

Hot damn I love when the algorithm knows the niche STEM stuff that piques my interest

Man thank you for this brain food. The future of a business I already love is bright.

So I’m a woodworker and woodturner that likes watching metal turning, don’t know why it is what it is lol. I found you early on and you are brilliant and make me laugh. I’m lost here. I’m gonna keep watching, I want to support you and I might even learn something, but mix in some dumb people turning occasionally please and it’s all good 😂.

"There's a catch! We are going to give a tour of our facility" Why can't all contract clauses be like this?

This reminds me of Falstad's old Wave Simulator java applets. When I was about to graduate HS I first saw those and his circuit simulator and that got me into electrical engineering in school.

Thank you for the video, Neil! It was a pleasure having you at Fortify. It is clear that you are passionate about this application. I really enjoyed your video!

I work with microwaves professionally fun to see many familiar equipment .

Wow, a lot of new interesting RF stuff! Thx for sharing!

I've learned more about radio waves in the last 10 minutes, than the previous six decades. Thanks

This is WAY over my head, but in no way does that mean this information isn't beyond fascinating! I've shared this with my Dad, who's spent his entire life building hobby transceiver/antenna sets.

DAMN! The TECH that was developed here is mind-blowing! Looks like many man-centuries of work to get to this level.

It's neat seeing these new processes and products. Even if I don't really understand them.

This video is my introduction to your channel and I love it ❤ I am Blown away about these Rf lenses…

As always, great, informative video. Thanks for shining some light on development of 3d printed RF stuff. This removes many limitations in designing such solutions, Now, limits are mostly imagination and laws of physics, not a manufacturing the idea.

Very Cool, and good vid. Frequency stuff WELL above my pay grade. Keep up the good work.

This is really cool. It is great to hear about these tech breakthru's. Perhaps if more "Adverts" were as detailed as this I'd start watching them a bit more. Thanks.

That was extremely interesting and helped me understand how much I didn't know. Thanks m8.

Another brilliant video man, I am getting into generative design, and this makes me curious how I can better implement design constraints with a secondary function. Thank you for the video man!

As an American i can confirm the intro is an accurate depiction of a regular city street. Good work

This was a super fun video - well done on the sponsored delivery, all very up-front and great pacing. I admire your work here and now am going to have a dig through the rest of your content here. Keep up the great work!

started watching this vid like: aw this is a very interesting little video on a subject i have little knowledge in, by a pretty cool entertaining guy. then 5:43 hits and I go cross-eyed by how over my head it was. new sub keep it up!

Literally had no idea what was going on the entire video but it was cool to watch

One of my favorite things to do on youtube is to find some topic I have no knowledge in, watch some videos, and try to get a general grasp. The information I gather is usually pretty useless by itself as it's often very surface level and I have no way to apply it, but I find it entertaining, so I do it anyway. Even then I usually at the very least understand what the topic is, especially when it's about some scientific topic. I have a somewhat deeper, more academical knowledge of mathematics and physics. This is one of those videos however where I go through and by the end I'm pretty much where I started. This stuff is so technical I basically have no idea what I've watched!

What a fantastic film. Excellent work sir ! From a humble radio ham / old school telecoms tech chap!

Oh god, this brings back nightmares of RF engineering from my days at University. Went on to do electronic design and never did RF (well, not real RF). Wow, I'm impressed at how far this tech has come. Thanks.

Brillient stuff a learning curve. Very informative ..thkyou for putting it out

Well this is interesting.. I've been playing around with this for a good year with my printer. Nothing this advanced or complex. Absolutely awesome.

How am I only finding this channel now!!! Subbed 😁

When I was in ECE back in college about a decade ago I was sitting with some friends talking with a guy trying to choose his engineering major. You got all the usual memes but everyone at the table agreed that the people studying RF were basically magicians.

This was pretty cool of you Rodgers Corporation.

I'm an EE with what I thought of as a pretty well rounded knowledge. Turns out I know less about RF than I thought! Very interesting

Great video, looking forward to part 2

Thats awesome. Id love to try printing it!

Epic stuff, ladies and gentlemen.

It's kind of fun to watch videos about fields that I have no experience in that use words that I know, and try to guess the concepts being used. I heard the phrase "loss tangent" being thrown around a whole lot, and I tried to guess the variables that would go into an equation where that's relevant.

This tech would be great for stiff, light woofers, thin and fast tweeters... Can't wait to learn more!!!

this is amazing, thanks for your efforts and sharing , its so interesting!

I like your funny words magic man. I'mma pretend I know what's going on and just be glad you got something fun to do.

Really enjoyed that presentation. I would love to see the results of your moon scoping!

18:08 I love this little "Oops, wrong finger" moment

Nice work Love the new presentation style

Some years ago I did time as a radar tech. This video makes me feel like a kid again…