tiny heatsinks

percy · 6th May 2007, 04:29 PM

I am looking for very small heatsinks that I want to use on some small chips - mostly smd - like regulators, codecs,opamps.
Any ideas what and where I could try ?

Chartal · 6th May 2007, 05:01 PM

You can try graphic card memory heatsink.

Memory Heatsink

percy · 6th May 2007, 05:25 PM

yeah I saw those. the smallest of those were about 13-14mm. I need something smaller than that. Preferrably less than 10mm.
or I guess any diy ideas would be great too using adhesive copper/aluminium tape or something.

sorenj07 · 6th May 2007, 05:31 PM

what is the shape of the thing you're trying to heatsink? what package?

Nordic · 6th May 2007, 06:11 PM

lol some thermal glue paste and some taxi nails with thei heads sanded flat ?

percy · 7th May 2007, 04:01 PM

yeah I am thinking adhesive copper tape on the device, followed by aluminium tape (duct tape) on top of it with some artistically crafted "fins"

the Cu should help absorb heat quickly and the Al should help disperse it in the air quickly.

as for the shape, here are the devices I am trying to cool -
Sigmatel STAC9460S - Codec (smd)
ST LD33 - 3.3v regulator (smd)
ST LD18 - 1.8v regulator (smd)
And a ~10mm diameter SMD inductor in the DC input section.

These are in a Audigy 2 NX usb soundcard.

Christer · 7th May 2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by percy
yeah I saw those. the smallest of those were about 13-14mm. I need something smaller than that. Preferrably less than 10mm.
or I guess any diy ideas would be great too using adhesive copper/aluminium tape or something.

Cut them with a saw?

radtech · 8th May 2007, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by percy
yeah I am thinking adhesive copper tape on the device, followed by aluminium tape (duct tape) on top of it with some artistically crafted "fins"
the Cu should help absorb heat quickly and the Al should help disperse it in the air quickly.

A small piece of thin copper bent in a squared "U" shape and glued to the top would probably do it, you might check your local hardware supply and see if copper flashing is thin enough to work with, you could even check with roofers to see if you can get some scraps for free.

jackinnj · 8th May 2007, 04:07 PM

after you figure the amount of heat necessary to dissipate you can determine the square area of copper on the board -- you might not need a heat sink -- I used board area to cool the surface mount pass transistors in my SMT super-regulator and it really works -- i have also done this with surface mount LM317 in the D-PAK.

Nat Semi has a application note on this somewhere on their website.

radtech · 8th May 2007, 07:00 PM

I got the impression these were on a commercial sound card and he just wanted to add some extra heatsinking, but for SMT copper on the board would be the way to go for a new design.

I think with the size and type of chips involved, you'd be better off keeping it simple... trying to mix copper and aluminum is going to be past the point of diminishing returns, next you'll be looking for a MEMS fan

6th May 2007, 04:29 PM	#1
percy diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: CA	tiny heatsinks I am looking for very small heatsinks that I want to use on some small chips - mostly smd - like regulators, codecs,opamps. Any ideas what and where I could try ?

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6th May 2007, 05:01 PM	#2
Chartal diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Montreal	You can try graphic card memory heatsink. Memory Heatsink

6th May 2007, 05:25 PM	#3
percy diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: CA	yeah I saw those. the smallest of those were about 13-14mm. I need something smaller than that. Preferrably less than 10mm. or I guess any diy ideas would be great too using adhesive copper/aluminium tape or something.

6th May 2007, 05:31 PM	#4
sorenj07 diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Berlin	what is the shape of the thing you're trying to heatsink? what package?

6th May 2007, 06:11 PM	#5
Nordic diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2005	lol some thermal glue paste and some taxi nails with thei heads sanded flat ?

7th May 2007, 04:01 PM	#6
percy diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: CA	yeah I am thinking adhesive copper tape on the device, followed by aluminium tape (duct tape) on top of it with some artistically crafted "fins" the Cu should help absorb heat quickly and the Al should help disperse it in the air quickly. as for the shape, here are the devices I am trying to cool - Sigmatel STAC9460S - Codec (smd) ST LD33 - 3.3v regulator (smd) ST LD18 - 1.8v regulator (smd) And a ~10mm diameter SMD inductor in the DC input section. These are in a Audigy 2 NX usb soundcard.

8th May 2007, 04:07 PM	#9
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	after you figure the amount of heat necessary to dissipate you can determine the square area of copper on the board -- you might not need a heat sink -- I used board area to cool the surface mount pass transistors in my SMT super-regulator and it really works -- i have also done this with surface mount LM317 in the D-PAK. Nat Semi has a application note on this somewhere on their website.

8th May 2007, 07:00 PM	#10
radtech diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2006	I got the impression these were on a commercial sound card and he just wanted to add some extra heatsinking, but for SMT copper on the board would be the way to go for a new design. I think with the size and type of chips involved, you'd be better off keeping it simple... trying to mix copper and aluminum is going to be past the point of diminishing returns, next you'll be looking for a MEMS fan