Measurement Systems & Automated Test Equipment

MWI provides advanced engineering and systems integration for precision electromagnetic material-measurement equipment. Our solutions range from compact measurement fixtures and portable instruments to configurable automated test platforms for advanced material characterization.

Every device is engineered for maximum bandwidth, NIST-traceable accuracy, and seamless integration with modern VNA platforms.

Category 1: Free Space Measurement Antennas

The “Beam Architecture” – High-performance hardware for precision wave-front shaping and propagation.

  • Gaussian Beam Antennas: Our signature radiating engines: These Broadband antennas utilize dielectric lens optics to produce a highly collimated beam with invariant cross-section across the entire measurement zone.
  • Polyrod Antennas: These Polyrod antennas are engineered for high-gain and wide-angle measurement, offering a compact form factor with an exceptionally clean, consistent phase center across broad bandwidths.
  • Gaussian Beam Array Antenna: A specialized array engineered for low-frequency (50 MHz – 1 GHz) material characterization. It synthesizes a directional Gaussian beam to provide deep penetration into thick composites and large-scale structures, delivering localized energy control and minimizing environmental interference at wavelengths where standard antennas become impractical.

Category 2: Measurement Sensors & Probes

The “Precision Sensors” – Specialized tools for localized characterization and surface analysis.

  • Handheld Reflectometer: A ruggedized, portable 24-inch arch designed for non-destructive field testing on the flight line or production floor. Utilizing proprietary Polyrod antennas to produce a highly collimated beam, it brings laboratory-grade reflectivity analysis and surface impedance characterization directly to large-scale composite structures and aircraft skins.

Category 3: Structured Measurement Fixtures

The “Fixtures” – Portable and laboratory-scale environments for controlled material characterization.

  • Admittance Tunnels: A collimated Gaussian beam measurement environment. These tunnels are engineered to eliminate edge-diffraction and minimize environmental clutter, allowing for high-accuracy insertion loss and transmission testing of material panels.
  • Free-Space (NRL) Arches: Precision laboratory arches utilizing a collimated Gaussian beam to ensure high-fidelity measurement. These systems are specifically designed for multi-static and angular reflectivity studies (TE and TM polarizations) across a broad frequency spectrum, providing a stable electromagnetic environment for complex material analysis.
  • High-Temperature Tunnels & Arches: These structured measurement fixtures provide a collimated Gaussian beam environment designed to eliminate edge-diffraction and environmental clutter. Whether configured as a Tunnel for precise insertion loss and transmission testing or as an Arch for angular reflectivity (TE/TM polarizations), these systems are engineered to maintain MWI’s signature beam precision while characterizing material performance at extreme temperatures.

Category 4: Linearly Polarized Characterization Stations

  • High-Precision Near-Field Resonant and Transmission Systems: Specialized fixtures engineered for the interrogation of coupons, sheets, and slabs. Utilizing linearly polarized near-field interactions, these stations provide unparalleled sensitivity for characterizing anisotropic properties and complex material tensors from VHF through high-frequency ranges.

Category 5: Large-Format Automated Test Platforms

Configurable automated positioning platforms for large-area material characterization.

  • Net Table Scanners: Large-format X-Y scanning systems for mapping electromagnetically large surfaces.
  • Multi-Axis Positioning Platforms: Configurable positioning equipment for automated measurement applications.
  • Integrated Automated Measurement Systems: Application-specific test platforms combining measurement instrumentation, positioning equipment, specialized fixtures, and coordinated data acquisition. MWI provides system engineering and technical integration, with specialized fabrication and physical assembly coordinated through qualified third-party suppliers and service providers.

Category 6: Calibration & Standards

The “Verification” – Ensuring NIST-traceable, defensible data.

  • Reference Materials: Individual, high-precision dielectric standards. We provide NIST-traceable slabs of Rexolite, Plexiglass, and specialized materials machined to ± 0.001 inch tolerances for lab verification.
  • Calibration Irises: High-tolerance apertures for tunnels and arches.
  • Custom Validation Kits: Project-Based. MWI designs bespoke validation artifacts and serialized protocols for your specific test fixtures. These kits allow for daily system-level verification, ensuring your Quality Management System (QMS) remains in compliance between formal service intervals.
  • Net Tables: The MWI Net Table is designed to hold the Sample Under Test (SUT) securely “in space,” providing a stable mechanical platform that does not interact with the RF field.