Wat is de maximale grootte van het koelprofiel dat we kunnen produceren?

In large-scale industrial applications, clients often ask us: can we go wider, taller, longer? The answer depends on both design and machine.

Yes, we can produce heatsinks up to 550mm wide and 120mm tall in extrusion, depending on the press and fin complexity.

When a heatsink is too large, production becomes riskier. To make informed decisions, it’s important to understand how size affects extrusion feasibility.

What’s the largest size our heatsinks can reach?

In many projects, customers want big heatsinks—especially in energy, EV, or industrial equipment. That creates stress for the die, the aluminum, and the machines.

Our largest aluminum heatsink profile reached 550mm in width and 120mm in height, extruded with a 4500-ton press.

We produced this for a European customer building power inverters. The profile had high-density fins and required stable flatness on the base. We designed a custom die, optimized metal flow, and used stress-relief cooling techniques. The final product met strict tolerances.

Size Limits Overview

Our press range (500–4500 tons) gives us flexibility. Not every job needs maximum size. But when customers ask, we can stretch to handle large heatsinks safely.

What length and width are supported for heatsinks?

Many clients want to know: can the heatsink be long enough to cover their device? What about wide enough to spread heat evenly?

We support heatsinks up to 550mm wide and 8 meters long, depending on weight and handling limits.

Heatsinks are shaped by the cross-section and the cut length. Here’s how it works:

Width (Cross-section)

• Maximum width is limited by the extrusion press’s container size.
• The shape must fit inside the “tool circle”—usually up to 500mm for our largest dies.
• The profile’s width includes all fins, web thickness, and base plate.

If a profile exceeds this, we suggest modular designs. For example, two halves joined by CNC or post-welding.

Lengte

• Standard bar length is 3–6 meters.
• Longer lengths are possible up to 8 meters, but handling gets harder.
• We often cut to size before machining to reduce warpage.

Long profiles are cut after extrusion, then cooled and straightened. For precision parts, we machine surfaces after cutting.

Ontwerptip

Use the full width only if necessary. More aluminum means higher cost, slower cooling, and tighter tolerances.

Do we have limitations on extrusion size?

Yes—size matters a lot in heatsink extrusion. We can’t push past physical and mechanical limits.

We are limited by press size, die strength, cooling control, and material flow—especially for wide or complex heatsinks.

Let me break this down simply:

1. Die and Press Size

Every extrusion press has a maximum “container diameter” (tool circle). If the profile doesn’t fit inside, it can’t be extruded.

• Our 4500-ton press handles up to 550mm tool circle.
• Die strength becomes a problem above 500mm.
• Larger presses are rare and expensive to maintain.

2. Fin Geometry

Fin spacing, thickness, and height must stay within safe limits. Extremely tall and thin fins can break the die or cause uneven flow.

• Fin height to gap ratio: try to stay under 10:1.
• Fin thickness: minimum 1.5mm for structural stability.
• Fin base must allow even flow and easy cooling.

3. Cooling and Straightness

Large heatsinks cool unevenly. That creates warping. We use:

• Water quenching
• Stretch straightening
• Aging ovens to stabilize structure

4. CNC and Machining

Bigger profiles are harder to machine. Warpage affects tolerances.

For precision surfaces, we use:

• CNC flat milling
• High-torque clamping
• Stress-relief cycles before final machining

5. Logistics

Shipping large profiles is more expensive. We offer:

• On-site packaging and protection
• Custom cut lengths
• End machining to reduce volume

If your heatsink is too big for one piece, we help split it. Either by bonding, welding, or mechanical joint design.

How does size affect production feasibility?

Going bigger sounds better—but it’s not always smarter. Bigger heatsinks create more risk, cost, and delay.

As heatsink size increases, production gets harder—costlier dies, longer cooling time, warpage, and lower yield.

Let’s break down how size affects each step:

Tooling and Die Design

Large dies wear faster and may crack under pressure. We run simulations before building large dies.

Extrusion and Cooling

Post-Processing

• Long heatsinks may bend slightly—so CNC faces must be realigned.
• Tall fins may vibrate during cutting—need careful clamping.
• Coating (anodizing, powder) must account for longer tanks or divided runs.

Material and Cost

• More aluminum = more money
• More risk = higher waste rate
• More setup time = longer lead times

When size rises, all these factors multiply.

Final Advice

Before going big:

• Ask: can we split the design?
• Ask: are tall fins really needed?
• Ask: can we optimize air flow instead?

We often help clients reduce size without losing performance. Better airflow or thicker base often beats tall fins.

Conclusie

Large heatsinks are possible—but they come with challenges. We can extrude up to 550mm wide, but we always suggest designing within stable limits to get better cost, quality, and delivery.