Machine the features that support assembly and testing
An aluminum heat sink may combine mounting faces, holes, fins, channels and thin sections. The drawing should show which interfaces control assembly and which features are part of a thermal design or test. Machining a component does not itself prove cooling performance.
For material information, see the aluminum material overview. Our article on aluminum heat-sink machining and thermal design challenges discusses engineering considerations; this page is for a part-specific machining request.
Show the features that control the job
- Specify alloy and condition.
- Mark mounting surfaces, hole patterns and datum references.
- Provide fin, channel, wall and pocket geometry in the current CAD model.
- State finish, deburring, critical dimensions and inspection records.
- Describe any separate thermal test requirement and who defines acceptance.
Thin walls, closely spaced fins and deep channels may affect access and workholding. Review the actual geometry before setting requirements or assuming a production route.
Prepare a complete request
Send the model and drawing revision, quantity, alloy, finish and delivery destination. Identify the interfaces to inspect and distinguish those checks from thermal performance tests.
