Extrusion is one of the most cost-effective manufacturing methods for producing plate fin and cross-cut heat sinks. It stands out for its low tooling and unit costs, making it an economical choice for mass production. The process primarily utilizes the aluminum alloy 6063, which offers an excellent balance of mechanical properties and surface appearance. While its thermal conductivity is slightly lower than that of pure aluminum (commonly used in cold forging), it significantly outperforms the alloys used in die casting. Although secondary machining can increase overall costs, the expense remains relatively low unless extensive machining is required.
Examples of Extruded Heat Sinks
Benefits of Extruded Heat Sinks
Extruded heat sinks offer several advantages over other manufacturing methods:
- Cost-Effective: Among mass production processes, extrusion boasts the lowest tooling and unit costs.
- Superior Thermal Performance: Especially effective for forced convection applications, offering optimized thermal performance.
- High Thermal Conductivity: Made from aluminum alloy 6063, with a thermal conductivity of 209 W/m-K, superior to many other materials.
- Versatile Design: Extrusions can be customized in length without the need for new tooling.
- Surface Finish: Provides an excellent surface finish and appearance, enhancing the final product’s aesthetics.
- Secondary Machining Flexibility: Secondary operations are easily achievable, adding to the versatility of the process.
- Omnidirectional Properties: Cross-cut extrusions deliver consistent performance across multiple directions.
Given the low tooling and manufacturing costs, custom-designed extrusions are recommended for achieving optimal performance across various applications.
Maximum Dimensions of Extruded Heat Sinks
The maximum dimensions we can extrude and cross-cut are:
- Maximum width: 400 mm
- Maximum height: 60 mm
- Maximum aspect ratio (Fin height divided by fin gap): 20
Please note that fin geometry and other factors affect the actual manufacturability. Please contact us to determine if your part can be made.
Available Off-the-Shelf Heat Sinks
We currently offer the following standard heat sinks for customers to choose:
Request a quote for your custom heat sink
Need assistance in designing your heat sink?
We provide design assistance to customers. Please let us know your requirements, and we will help you design a custom heat sink.