How to metalize selected faces on a 3D structure? Has anyone ever done this before?

[dovod]

Hi all,

I was wondering if this is possible. I have modelled a 3d structure of a Horn antenna in CST MWS 2014 and the whole thing (with a considerable thickness in order to have screws through it and have a model easy to print in a 3D printer) is made out of gold. The thing is I just need the internal faces to be metallized, as it will work as a pec, I don't mind the exterior to be metallized and besides, I think the simulation is giving some wrong outcomes if the whole thing is made out of gold.

So, do anyone know how to select the internal faces and change the material only on that selected zones? Is it even possible? Thank you all.

P.D.: The error I get in the results is that the resonance frecuency is a bit shifted to higher frequencies comparing to what I get with the horn antenna without all the apparatus, just to let you know if this may have another explanation...

Thank you all in advance!

 

[gyz182]

Hi,

If I understand you correctly, you are trying to model a realistic version of a horn antenna that could be 3D printed. You could model the horn with ABS material, for example, and then pick the internal faces and create shape from picked face and model that as gold material.

However, you might also have to extrude this new shape to account for the skin effect. By default, the procedure above creates a new material on the selected faces with zero thickness.

Hope that helps, let me know if that works. (Also pretty interested in your experimental findings)

 

[gyz182]

I could also try and have a look at your model if you could upload the your CST design file