Manufacturers address the challenges of manufacturing complex curved surfaces in aircraft components by using techniques such as ¹:
- *Electric Field-Driven Jetting*: This process involves printing high-resolution electronics patterns on a water-soluble cellulose sacrificial layer substrate.
- *Water-Assisted Transfer Printing*: This process involves placing the printed electronics pattern in water, allowing it to form a self-supporting structure that can be transferred onto complex curved surfaces.
- *Conformal Printing*: This process involves techniques such as electrohydrodynamic jet printing, aerosol jet printing, inkjet printing, laser direct writing, and adaptive 3D printing to print directly onto curved surfaces.
- *Segmented Diverter Strips*: This process involves using thin metallic bars to intercept lightning and make contact with the aircraft structure.
- *High-Voltage Tests*: This process involves simulating the initial leader attachment process to determine locations where lightning attachment may occur.
- *High-Current Tests*: This process involves testing radome samples with high-current pulses to simulate lightning strikes and assess thermal damage.