1. What is a heatsink profile?

A heatsink profile is usually an extrusion piece or can be formed from other methods to help remove heat from devices or equipment.

There will generally be a base and fins on the heatsink profile.

The base is where heat is introduced to the heatsink.

While the fins are used to expand the surface area for cooling.

So when using a heatsink profile you are able to expand your cooling efficiency while taking up less space.

Most heatsink profiles are made out of aluminum due to its ability to be extruded into many different shapes.

You can have many different variations of extruded shapes.

From straight fins to pins and even curves. You can also add grooves or even brackets into your heatsink profile.

Check out our 【Heatsink Extrusion Profiles】 and 【Heat Sink Extrusion】 page to learn more.

2. How does a heatsink profile work?

A heatsink profile allows heat to be transferred in different ways.

When a device introduces heat to a heatsink profile the heat will be dispersed through the base of the heatsink.

Then the heat will travel to the fins which then transfer the heat away from the heatsink.

Depending on the shape of your profile can allow you to transfer heat faster or slower.

For instance having taller fins will allow you to dissipate heat at a greater rate.

But if you fins are too tall it can hinder your air flow which can slow down your cooling process.

By adding forced air to your heatsink profile you can improve cooling rates even more.

You can also use natural convection if your heat output isn’t as high.

It all depends on your situation.

3. Types of Heatsink Profiles

There are many different types of heatsink profiles that can be used for your applications.

3.1 Straight Fin Heatsink Profiles

Straight fins are a great way to cool your equipment.

They are a simple design that can be extruded very easily.

These are commonly found in industrial applications and electronics.

3.2 Pin Fin Heatsink Profiles

Pin fin heatsink profiles can consist of pins that are round or any other shape.

By using pin fins you are able to dissipate heat from all directions.

Which is beneficial if your air flow can change directions.

3.3 Skived Fin Heatsink Profiles

Skived fins are produced from a block of metal.

They can be made with thinner fins and closer together to give you more surface area.

Check out our 【Skived Fin Heat Sink】 to learn more.

3.4 Extruded Heatsink Profiles

Extruded heatsink profiles can be used for many applications.

They can be created to almost any shape you want.

Which makes them one of the most used methods when producing heatsinks.

Check out our 【Extruded Heat Sink】 to learn more.

3.5 Zipper Fin Heatsink Profiles

Zipper fin heatsink profiles can be used to get more surface area in a smaller space.

They are a very thin fin that can be packed tight together.

Learn more about our 【Zipper Fin Heat Sink】.

3.6 Bonded Fin Heatsink Profiles

Bonded fin heatsink profiles can allow you to create any dimension of fin you want.

By bonding the fins to your base you are not restricted by an extrusion die.

Check out our 【Bonded Fin Heat Sink】 to learn more.

3.7 Heat Pipe Heatsink Profiles

You can also add heat pipes to your heatsink profile.

Heat pipes can transfer heat to certain areas of your heatsink.

This can be useful if you have one area that produces more heat than others.

Check out our 【Heat Pipe Heat Sink】 to learn more.

4. Materials Used In Heatsink Profiles

When selecting what material to use for your heatsink profile there are many factors to consider.

4.1 Aluminum

As stated earlier most heatsink profiles are made out of aluminum.

There are many benefits to using aluminum:

• Great conductivity

• Lightweight

• Corrosion resistant

• Can be extruded easily

• Affordable

• Can be machined easily

There are many types of aluminum that can be used to make your heatsink profile.

Each have their own pros and cons.

Learn more about our 【Aluminium Heat Sink Material】.

4.2 Copper

If you need something with a higher conductivity you can use copper.

Copper is a great conductor of heat but it is heavier than aluminum.

And can be difficult to extrude or form into certain shapes.

Learn more about our 【Copper Heatsinks】.

4.3 Copper Aluminum

You can also use both copper and aluminum to make your heatsinks.

This will allow you to use copper where you need more conductivity and aluminum for lighter areas.

Learn more about our 【Heat Sink Manufacturing Line】.

5. Design Considerations For Heatsink Profiles

There are many things to think about when designing your heatsink profile.

5.1 Base Thickness

How thick your base is will depend on how much heat you are trying to dissipate.

Thicker base will spread heat out over a wider area but will take more material.

So make sure your base is optimized for your needs.

5.2 Fin Height

Your fins can be as tall as you want but you want to make sure that they don’t obstruct your air flow.

Make sure your fin height is optimized for your cooling method.

5.3 Fin Thickness

Your fin thickness can be as thin as you want.

But you will want to make sure they are easy to manufacture and will not bend.

5.4 Fin Spacing

How far apart your fins are will also affect your cooling.

Having fins that are closer together will allow you to have more fins but could restrict your air flow.

You will want to find a happy medium that will work for your situation.

5.5 Length

You can make your heatsink profiles as long as you want when they are being extruded.

Then cut them to your desired length.

So you can design your profile to fit your needs.

5.6 Mounting

You can also add features to your profile to allow for mounting.

Such as grooves for screws or other brackets.

6. How To Make A Heatsink Profile

When making a heatsink profile you can use an aluminum extrusion process to make your heatsinks.

Here is a list of steps that are involved in the extrusion process.

l Design Your Heatsink Profile

You will first want to design the shape you want for your heatsink profile.

Keep in mind that there are certain restrictions when it comes to extrusion.

l Create Extrusion Die

Once you have your heatsink profile designed you will need to create a die to extrude with.

Your die will determine what shape your heatsink profile will be.

Make sure to keep your fin design in mind when creating your die.

l Heat Your Billet

You will want to heat your aluminum to a certain temperature to allow it to be extruded.

l Extrude

Your aluminum will be pushed through the die to create your heatsink profile.

l Cool

After your aluminum has been extruded you will want to cool it down.

Make sure to cool it properly so it doesn’t deform.

l Straighten

Sometimes after extrusion your heatsink profile will need to be straightened.

l Cut

Once your heatsink profile has cooled and straightened you will want to cut it to your desired length.

You can use a automatic cutting machine to cut your heatsink profiles.

l CNC Machine

If you want to add any extra features to your heatsink profile you can use CNC machining to add those features.

l Surface Treatments

Once your heatsink profile has been cut and machined you can apply surface treatments to your heatsink.

l Inspect

You will want to make sure your heatsink profile meets your specifications.

You can measure:

• Dimensions

• Fin Thickness

• Spacing

• Flatness

• Surface Quality

• Mounting

To learn more about the process check out our 【Heat Sink Extrusion Process】.

7. Custom Heatsink Profiles

You can create custom heatsink profiles for your applications.

If you have a unique design or need your heatsink profile to fit a certain space you can have it customized.

Custom Sizing

You can change the dimensions of your heatsink profile to fit your needs.

Such as width, height and length.

You can also change your base and fin thickness.

Custom Fin Shapes

You can have your fins customized to your specifications.

Whether you want them thicker or thinner you can have it done.

Add Mounting Features

You can also add mounting features to your heatsink profile to save time on assembly.

Custom Surface Treatments

There are many surface treatments that you can apply to your heatsink profile.

Anodizing is a common one used on aluminum heatsinks.

8. Heatsink ProfileMachines

There are many machines that can be used when making heatsink profiles.

• Extrusion Press

• Extrusion Dies

• Billet Heater

• Cooling System

• Straightening Machine

• Cutting Machine

• CNC Machine

• Drill

• Surface Treatment Machines

• Inspection Equipment

• Packing Equipment

If you are looking to make custom heatsinks you may need additional machines to help with assembly.

Such as a 【Heat Pipe Heat Sink】 machine to insert heat pipes into your aluminum heatsinks.

9. Uses For Heatsink Profiles

There are many uses for heatsink profiles.

Industrial

Power supplies can run hot and will need a way to remove heat.

You can use a aluminum profile to cool your power supply passively or with forced air.

LEDs

LEDs also need a way to dissipate heat.

Using an extruded heatsink profile can help with that.

Telecommunication

Telecommunication can use custom heatsink profiles to cool there electronics.

Industrial Controls

Controls and power modules can use heatsink profiles to keep there temperature down.

PC & Servers

Your PC or server can benefit from using a heatsink profile as well.

Automotive

With the rise of electric vehicles there are many electronics that need to stay cool.

• Inverters

• Controllers

• Chargers

• Converters

• Modules

You can create custom heatsink profiles that will fit your applications needs.

10. Difference Between Heatsink Profile And Heatsink

A heatsink profile is just the profile that can be used to make your heatsink.

Whereas a heatsink can be machined and finished to your specifications.

So if you want to make your own heatsinks you can buy a heatsink profile and finish it off however you want.

11. What To Look For When Choosing A Heatsink Profile

There are many things to consider when choosing your heatsink profile.

Heat Output

You will want to know how much heat you are trying to dissipate from your device.

The higher your heat output the more you will need to cool.

Air Flow

Do you want to use forced air or natural convection?

This will determine what type of heatsink profile you want to use.

Space

How much space do you have to work with?

If you have limited space you can always make a custom heatsink profile to fit your needs.

Material

You will want to choose a material that will work best for your application.

Aluminum is a good choice for most extruded heatsink profiles.

But if you need higher conductivity you can use copper.

Quantity

If you need a large quantity of heatsink profiles you can use an extrusion process.

If you only need a few you can use CNC to create them.

Cost

Another factor to consider is cost.

You will want to make sure your budget can accommodate your needs.

12. Advantages Of Custom Heatsink Profiles

There are many advantages to using custom heatsink profiles.

More Efficient Cooling

You can create a profile that will allow you to cool more efficiently.

Take Up Less Space

By creating a custom profile you can make your heatsink fit your needs.

Less Components

You can add features to your profile that will help with assembly.

Less Material Waste

You can make your heatsink profile the exact size you need and waste less material.

Mass Production

Once your extrusion die is created you can produce large amounts of heatsink profiles.

Change Dimensions

You can change your profile dimensions to your liking.

13. Why Use Bangwin Machine?

If you want to make high quality heatsink profiles you will need more than just an extrusion press.

You will also need equipment to cut, machine, assemble and inspect your heatsinks.

Bangwin Machine can offer you all of these solutions.

We offer equipment that can be used to make heatsinks, heat pipes, vapor chambers and more.

Bangwin Machine Thermal Machinery

If you want to learn more about how we can help you make your heatsinks check out our solutions.

We can help you plan out your production process and what equipment you will need.

We can also provide you with equipment that will help you make your heatsinks.

Once we know what you need we can start building your machines and install them at your facility.

Check out our 

Home

14. FAQ

l What is a heatsink profile?

A heatsink profile is used to dissipate heat from your device or equipment.

It will usually consist of a base and fins.

Most heatsink profiles are made out of aluminum.

l What material should I use for my heatsink profile?

As stated above aluminum is the best material to use for extruded heatsink profiles.

If you need a higher conductivity you can use copper.

It all depends on your application.

l What is an extruded heatsink profile?

An extruded heatsink profile is created by pushing aluminum through a die to create a shape.

l Can I make a custom heatsink profile?

Yes you can make a custom heatsink profile.

You can change the dimensions of your profile and add features to it.

l What is the difference between a heatsink profile and a heatsink?

A heatsink profile is what you use to create a heatsink.

You can take your profile and machine it to your specifications.

l Why is aluminum used for heatsink profiles?

Aluminum is a great conductor of heat and is lightweight.

It can also be extruded easily which makes it a popular choice for heatsink profiles.

l Can I use copper for my heatsink profile?

Yes you can use copper for your heatsink profile.

Just keep in mind that it is heavier and harder to extrude.

l Can I add heat pipes to my heatsink profile?

Yes you can add heat pipes to your heatsink profile.

You can machine channels into your profile to add heat pipes.

l What equipment do I need to make a heatsink profile?

You will need an extrusion press, billet heater, cooling system, straightener, cutting machine, CNC machine and more.

l Can Bangwin Machine help me make my heatsink profiles?

Yes we can provide you with equipment that will help you make your heatsinks.

15. Conclusion

There are many benefits to using a heatsink profile for your applications.

By using a heatsink profile you can create a more efficient way to cool your device or equipment.

Make sure to optimize your heatsink profile to your needs.

Aluminum is a great material to use because it is light and conducts heat well.

But you can also use copper if you need a higher conductivity.

Once you have your heatsink profile created you can machine and finish it to your specifications.

If you are looking to make your own heatsinks make sure to check out our thermal manufacturing solutions.