MICROWAVE DEVELOPMENT LABORATORIES
The World Leader in Waveguide Components

About

Established in 1948, MDL is the largest independent producer of waveguide and subassemblies in the microwave industry. The company is headquartered in Needham, Mass.

MDL’s product lines include:

  • Waveguide bends and twists
  • Directional couplers
  • Monopulse comparators
  • Rotary joints
  • Microwave filters
  • Rotary switches
  • Waveguide shutters
  • Waveguide pressure windows
  • And other components

Besides manufacturing thousands of standard microwave components, our engineers, who are experts in various areas of the technology, are accustomed to cooperating with our customers who have special electrical and mechanical requirements. In fact, such specials are routine at MDL.

It has always been our policy to equip the company with a wide range of superior equipment. Our engineers use computers and exclusive MDL programs to produce our accurate electrical designs quickly. MDL machinists have computer-assisted machines at their disposal as well as screw machines and other specialized quality production equipment. The fabrication group uses the MDL foundry, dip brazing shop, and paint shop. All of these result in better control over the production cycle and quality of our products.

High reliability is MDL’s trademark. This concept is embodied in the “Quality Manual” and “Quality Procedures” using ISO 9001-2015 and AS9100D. Calibration of electrical and mechanical equipment takes place in-house using written procedures per ANSI/Z540.

Great selection, service, quality and prices keep our customers coming back.

Total Control for Total Perfection
Great ideas, great solutions, come from great engineering minds, and we have some of the best in the industry. By providing our engineers with state of the art manufacturing and testing facilities under the same roof, they can watch their designs come to life and control every aspect of their project’s development to perfection. And you, as a customer, are welcome to collaborate with them every step of the way.

Engineering Capabilities
Meeting today’s design challenges not only requires expertise, but top shelf hardware and software as well. It has been our policy since our founding to equip our engineers and machinists with the finest tools available. Aside from employing proprietary MDL software, our computerized design systems also utilize Solid Works and Ansoft HFSS capabilities. Using Solid Works, we first design a 3D model then Ansoft HFSS computes s-parameters and full wave fields, analyzes port impedances, complex propagation constants, electromagnetic fields, and radiated electric fields for open boundary problems, exporting the data for use in linear and non-linear circuit simulations. The beauty of the Ansoft system lies not only in its functionality, but in its speed, allowing us to turn your design challenges into real solutions quickly.

Quality Manufacturing Capabilities
MDL’s in-house manufacturing facility encompasses CNC machining centers, aluminum dip brazing, EDM facilities, cleaning, impregnation, iridite, heat treating, RF testing, and finishing. Off the shelf items, as well as custom pieces that require special tolerances, complicated configurations, multiple formed bends, twists, or offsets are manufactured with precision, and are subjected to complete inspection and testing.

Reliability Guaranteed
All MDL products undergo 100% functional performance verification as required per ISO 9001. Fully automated, software controlled and networked RF test stations are used throughout our facility. Our test capabilities (DC to 40GHz) encompass VSWR, loss, attenuation, delay, and phase matching. Data collection and product traceability are available to support your needs, and performance criteria are always tailored to meet your most stringent requirements.

In Partnership with our Customers
Over a span of more than 70 years, MDL has honed itself into a company driven by its customers’ needs. From a single custom piece to off-the-shelf items, to mass production runs, we are here to work with you to provide the expertise and quality assurance your project deserves, at a very competitive price. Call us today to speak with an MDL sales representative, and join the future of waveguide component technology.

Plant
50,000 square foot sales, administrative, engineering and manufacturing facility located in Needham Heights, Massachusetts.

A History of Tomorrows
When we pioneered the Riblet Coupler back in 1948, we had a pretty good idea that microwave technology was the coming thing. As a result, we’ve never stopped inventing, testing, and perfecting microwave coupling solutions. During the ‘60s, we came up with the thin wall monopulse comparator for the Lunar Excursion Module. The ‘70s saw us developing waveguide feed and monopulse networks for F-14 and F-15 aircraft. As related technologies expanded, we shrank the size of our products to accommodate them. In the 1980s, we introduced internally milled technology to reduce the size and weight and improve the performance of our products for the F-18 and B-1 radar systems. We anticipated today’s demands for smaller, more precise waveguide products, such as Longbow and Milstar programs for higher frequencies, as well as shorter lead times and more cost-effective solutions.Tomorrow, we envision the explosion in microwave technology touching the lives of countless millions of end users around the world. Foresight has made us the world’s largest independent producer of waveguide components and subassemblies in the industry.We will continue to make history.

Services and Capabilities
Computer drafting systems:

  • Cadra
  • Solid Works

Computer drafting systems:

  • MDL software
  • Ansoft HFSS version 7.0
  • Ansoft Optimetrics

R.F. Design Systems

  • MDL software
  • Ansoft HFSS version 7.0
  • Ansoft Optimetrics

R.F. Test

  • H.P. 8510 Network Analyzer
  • H.P. 8720 B Network Analyzer
  • H.P. 8720 D Network Analyzer
  • H.P. 8722 D Network Analyzer

Machine Shop:

  • Fadal Millling Centers
  • Hardinge Conquest Turning Centers
  • Nomura Screw Machines
  • Cincinnati Turning Center
  • Mazak Milling Center
  • Brown and Sharpe Grinders
  • Wire – EDM

Brazing:

  • Automated Dip-Brazing for Aluminum
  • Torch and Furnace Brazing for Copper and Copper Alloy

Foundry:

  • Investment Casting
  • Aluminum Alloy
  • Copper Beryllium Alloy
  • Silicone Bronze Alloy

Quality:

  • ISO 9001
  • SPC
  • Process Control
  • MIL-I-45208
  • Brown & Sharpe Validator
  • Optical Comparator
  • Standard Inspection Equipment