Heatsinks, baseplates, Aluminium vs other metals

[db3306]

Todiloo,
As i am about to replace some baseplates in my first el cheapo china projector i was thinking of using copper instead of aluminium, are there any advantages or disadvantages of using copper over aluminum?

I have a feeling that its easier to work with when drilling and cutting it, much softer material..

As i am working as an industrial electrician i have access to a lot of waste copper plates, however they are only 5 mm thick at most. I can probably get 10mm aluminium as well if i need.


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[chad]

Absolutely not! Copper is very difficult to work with. The softness makes it very hard to machine well. Not to mention the price of copper. You only use copper if you HAVE to and for a base plate you don't have to. Just use aluminum.

Chad

[db3306]

damn it, i have 5 mm copper, and 10 mm alu and i need a 15 mm baseplate

[chad]

LOL, the 10 mm will be just fine.

chad

[db3306]

im sure it would be enough for cooling, but i still need 15 mm to get it up for them scanners
I solved it by making a burger of fine cut 2x 6mm and 1x 3mm alu, will be using arctic cool as burger sauce.

[mixedgas]

im sure it would be enough for cooling, but i still need 15 mm to get it up for them scanners
I solved it by making a burger of fine cut 2x 6mm and 1x 3mm alu, will be using arctic cool as burger sauce.

This is a burger you want plain. Softly sand the sides of the sandwitch plates, and stack them. You'll have better cooling then with the "sauce". Sauce is only for thermalburgers with serious deformities.

Steve

[planters]

Agreed. The base plates have such a large cross sectional area compared to the components that as long as they are in even partial contact they will not be a significant bottle neck. Don't forget the dissimilar metals thing, however... fog, humidity etc.

[dsli_jon]

6061 Al is more than Gr8 for baseplate.. and 10-12mm is plenty beefy for all but the biggest of rigs...

Too bad yer so far away, I'd gladly trade ya some choice-plates of 6061 for some of that 'scrap copper'...

fwiw..
j

[db3306]

We have plenty of 6061 Al here at work if im not mistaken and also alot of copper, as well as welders, and cnc operators
I think im going to take good care of the resources here once im going to try to build my own modules

[-bart-]

damn it, i have 5 mm copper, and 10 mm alu and i need a 15 mm baseplate

Probably obvious to most of us, a heads-up for newbies and thread-lurkers:

As long as you sandwich identical metals you'll be fine.
If you sandwich copper and alu, and bolt them stiff you'll be in for a nasty surprise if things heat up.