Assembly, Integration & Test

Custom Microwave Inc. has many years of experience with the final stage of flight hardware production: Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T). We understand what it takes to plan for and succeed with the production of highly complex and intricate assemblies involved in achieving high performance and high volume antenna feeds and components.

With our extensive library of test components and long heritage of performing challenging RF and environmental tests on our passive microwave hardware, our team of skilled test technicians and engineers are used to performing under tight timelines to fulfill our obligations to our customers.

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Contact Us for Testing Services

RF Bench

CMi Maintains a clean room environment in which to perform precision assembly and RF Bench testing of passive microwave components. We have high performance network analyzers and precision calibration kits covering DC - 110 GHz, with experience testing up to 220 GHz. We routinely measure typical low insertion losses and high isolations, and also more challenging balanced amplitude and phase parameters of OMTs, Polarizers, Hybrids, and BFNs.

 

Far Field Range

CMi has tested hundreds of spaceflight antenna feeds in our 30’ X 14’ X 14’ symmetric far field range. We have extensive experience measuring low cross polarization, low axial ratio, and other challenging linear and circular polarized pattern parameters. Our range is configurable from 1-40 GHz, split into typical waveguide banded source horns and standard gain horns.

 

Near Field Range

CMi’s NSI~MI 8X8 Planar Near Field Range is able to maintain a planarity of 0.001” across the full scan range, for highly accurate pattern measurements up to 110 GHz and beyond. The same range has been configured at various lower frequency bands, including L-, Ku-, K-, Ka-, Q-, and V-Bands. Along with precise gain and radiation pattern measurements, we have heritage with holography, low axial ratio measurements, and more.

 

Passive Intermodulation

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Thermal Cycle

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Thermal Vacuum

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RF Bench

CMi Maintains a clean room environment in which to perform precision assembly and RF Bench testing. We have high performance network analyzers and precision calibration kits covering DC - 110 GHz.

We have extensive heritage measuring complicated feed networks and components, including OMTs, polarizers, hybrids, horn arrays, and BFNs.

Learn More   
Far Field Range

CMi has tested hundreds of spaceflight antenna feeds in our 30’ X 14’ X 14’ symmetric far field range. We have considerable experience measuring low cross polarization, low axial ratio, and other challenging linear and circular polarized pattern parameters. Our range is configurable from 1-40 GHz, split into typical waveguide banded source horns and standard gain horns.

Learn More   
Near Field Range

CMi’s NSI~MI 8X8 Planar Near Field Range is able to maintain a planarity of 0.001” across the full scan range, for highly accurate pattern measurements up to 110 GHz. Higher frequencies can be acommodated at request.

Our range has repeatedly exhibited precise gain and radiation pattern measurements, and we have heritage with holography and low axial ratio measurements.

Learn More   
Passive Intermodulation (PIM)

Due to the unique constraints imposed by multifrequency design, it can be critical to test for PIM interference prior to system deployment. We have developed a thermally controlled, RF transparent PIM testing chamber that operates from -130 to +140 C.

In-house, we have high power amplifiers covering S/C-, X/Ku-, K-, and Ka-Bands, but other bands can be supported with additional lead time.

Thanks to our experienced staff and history with PIM testing, we are able to pinpoint the areas of designs causing PIM, reducing design iteration costs. 

Learn More   
Thermal Cycle

CMi has several nitrogen atmosphere thermal chambers which are used for thermal cycling of components across the typical broad temperature range required by the satellite industry: -160 to +250C.

In addition to thermal cycling, we routinely perform RF testing at temperature extremes at all of the same frequencies that we perform RF bench tests: DC – 110 GHz.

Learn More   
Thermal Vacuum Chamber
CMi maintains a LACO TVAC for low pressure testing of components over the same requisite temperature ranges as our thermal cyclers:                           -160 to +250C
A high vacuum is maintained by a high volume turbomolecular pump, which is backed by an oil-free roughing pump to minimize the risk of contamination.
A large sliding platen allows for easy mounting of test articles, while several ports allows for high power waveguide feedthroughs and optical and infrared inspection ports.
In-house, we have high power amplifiers covering S/C-, X/Ku-, K-, and Ka-Bands, but other bands can be supported with additional lead time.
Learn More   
 
RF Bench

CMi Maintains a clean room environment in which to perform precision assembly and RF Bench testing of passive microwave components. We have high performance network analyzers and precision calibration kits covering DC - 110 GHz, with experience testing up to 220 GHz. We routinely measure typical low insertion losses and high isolations, and also more challenging balanced amplitude and phase parameters of OMTs, Polarizers, Hybrids, and BFNs.

 
Passive Intermodulation (PIM)

Due to the unique constraints imposed by multifrequency design, it can be critical to test for PIM interference prior to system deployment. We have developed a thermally controlled, RF transparent PIM testing chamber that operates from -130 to +140 C.

In-house, we have high power amplifiers covering S/C-, X/Ku-, K-, and Ka-Bands, but other bands can be supported with additional lead time.

Thanks to our experienced staff and history with PIM testing, we are able to pinpoint the areas of designs causing PIM, reducing design iteration costs. 

 
Near Field Range

CMi’s NSI~MI 8X8 Planar Near Field Range is able to maintain a planarity of 0.001” across the full scan range, for highly accurate pattern measurements up to 110 GHz. Higher frequencies can be acommodated at request.

Our range has repeatedly exhibited precise gain and radiation pattern measurements, and we have heritage with holography and low axial ratio measurements.

 
Far Field Range

CMi has tested hundreds of spaceflight antenna feeds in our 30’ X 14’ X 14’ symmetric far field range. We have considerable experience measuring low cross polarization, low axial ratio, and other challenging linear and circular polarized pattern parameters. Our range is configurable from 1-40 GHz, split into typical waveguide banded source horns and standard gain horns.

Environmental Testing

We have the capability to test how our parts or yours will hold up under the harsh conditions imposed by space flight.

Vibration Lab

We are equipped to provide full space qualification vibration testing using our Unholtz-Dickie T-2000 series shaker system.

We have completed over 350 tests on feeds and components in our facility.

Utilizing a 40 Channel M+P International Digital Control and Data Acquisition System, our system supports vertical and horizontal axis support and up to 20,000 lbf.

Learn More   
Thermal Cycle

CMi has several nitrogen atmosphere thermal chambers which are used for thermal cycling of components across the typical broad temperature range required by the satellite industry: -160 to +250C.

In addition to thermal cycling, we routinely perform RF testing at temperature extremes at all of the same frequencies that we perform RF bench tests: DC – 110 GHz.

Learn More   
Thermal Vacuum Chamber
CMi maintains a LACO TVAC for low pressure testing of components over the same requisite temperature ranges as our thermal cyclers:                           -160 to +250C
A high vacuum is maintained by a high volume turbomolecular pump, which is backed by an oil-free roughing pump to minimize the risk of contamination.
A large sliding platen allows for easy mounting of test articles, while several ports allows for high power waveguide feedthroughs and optical and infrared inspection ports.
In-house, we have high power amplifiers covering S/C-, X/Ku-, K-, and Ka-Bands, but other bands can be supported with additional lead time.
Learn More   
 

Vibration Lab

We are equipped to provide full space qualification vibration testing using our Unholtz-Dickie T-2000 series shaker system.

We have completed over 350 tests on feeds and components in our facility.

Our system supports up to 20,000 lbf with vertical and horizontal axis support.

Do the dimensions matter here? Why does the 40 Channel M+P International DAQ matter? How does it compare to other controllers?

 

Reach Out to Discuss Vibration Services