Injection Molding
Tooling and molding for your repeat plastic parts.
YOUR INTERFACES · YOUR CONDITIONS · YOUR ACCEPTANCE
Liquid Cold Plates
for Your Channels, Ports & Coolant
Match your cold plate to the heat-source layout and the liquid loop it will actually use. Define coolant, flow, pressure-drop allowance, mounting and acceptance requirements together before committing to a channel or joining route.
Illustrative component concept
Drawing
Critical geometry & interfaces
Materials
Grades, condition & compatibility
Joining
Defined route & final state
Evidence
Agreed methods & records
Start with Your Liquid-Cooling Assembly Requirements
Your liquid cold plate has to fit the heat-source layout and the loop it will actually use. Review these four inputs together before selecting how to manufacture it.
- Map power to the real contact footprint
- Identify the complete coolant condition
- Agree flow and pressure measurement boundaries
- Define ports, seals and mounting access
- Confirm the sample and acceptance evidence
Heat-source map
Show power by location, contact footprint, TIM and the temperature reference point.
Coolant conditions
Identify fluid chemistry, concentration, inlet temperature range and any cleanliness requirements.
Hydraulic budget
Provide operating flow and the available cold-plate pressure-drop allowance, including defined measurement boundaries.
Illustrative scale; not test data. View full fixture →
Assembly interfaces
Specify port thread standard, sealing method, mounting datums and clearance for fittings and tools.
Illustrative engineering concepts
Compare 4 Route Decisions for Your Geometry
Review construction and acceptance together. Your drawing and operating conditions determine the feasible route; the images illustrate structures, not confirmed manufacturing or test capability.
Machined Channels + Sealed Cover
Review channel geometry, sealing path, fasteners and service access.
Review route requirements →
Vacuum Brazed Construction
Review internal inserts, mating surfaces, material system and final fit.
Review route requirements →
Friction Stir Welded Cover
Review weld access, support, material and post-joining machining.
Review route requirements →
Your Released Route
Record the agreed material, joining method, final machining and inspection state in the controlled project specification.
Review route requirements →Illustrative engineering concepts
Review 3 Construction Routes Around Your Loop
HEAT MAP & INTERFACES↓COOLANT & JOINING ROUTE↓SAMPLE & AGREED CHECKS↓APPROVED FINISHED PART
A machined channel with a sealed cover, a brazed internal structure and a friction stir welded cover have different design and acceptance needs. Your drawing review should compare wetted materials, joining access, final flatness and service requirements rather than selecting a process from appearance alone.
- Identify the complete material and joining system.
- Review your critical interfaces in their final production state.
- Agree sample evidence before repeat-order release.
Compare Material References, Then Confirm Your Final Condition
Bulk stock properties help you review conduction and mass. These are sourced material references, not LK MFG part tests, approved material substitutions or post-joining performance guarantees.
Typical thermal conductivity
Hydro 6061-T6 at 25°C; Alumeco 3003 rolled typical; temperature and temper not stated for this physical-property entry. KME Cu-ETP annealed at 20°C.
Density reference
Calculate finished mass from the actual geometry. A material conductivity difference does not establish a device-temperature reduction.
| Grade | European reference | Si | Fe | Cu | Mn | Mg | Zn | Al |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6061 | EN AW-6061 · AlMg1SiCu | 0.40–0.80 | ≤0.70 | 0.15–0.40 | ≤0.15 | 0.80–1.20 | ≤0.25 | Balance |
| 3003 rolled | EN AW-3003 · AlMn1Cu | ≤0.60 | ≤0.70 | 0.05–0.20 | 1.0–1.5 | — | ≤0.10 | Balance |
| C11000 | Cu-ETP · CW004A | — | — | ≥99.90 | — | — | — | — |
Selected elements only. Dash means not specified in this summary, not zero. 6061: Cr 0.04–0.35%, Ti ≤0.15%; 3003: Ti ≤0.05%; Mg/Cr not listed in the cited selected composition. C11000: O ≤0.040%; do not relabel Cu-ETP as oxygen-free copper. Aluminum other elements ≤0.05% each / ≤0.15% total. The purchasing standard and certificate govern. Confirm product form, temper, joining compatibility and required final condition.
Sources: Hydro 6061 → · Alumeco 3003 → · KME Cu-ETP →
3 Views for Your Thermal Review
Use calculations to frame your questions. Request measured curves or CFD only with an agreed geometry, boundary conditions and validation scope. Every example here is illustrative.
1 · Thermal resistance budget
Illustrative R budget = (75°C − 25°C)/Q, using a chosen 50 K allowance. Define the actual temperature points and interfaces. This is not a measured cold plate curve.
2 · Temperature allowance
Chosen example: 75°C limit minus a reference of 25, 35 or 45°C gives 50, 40 or 30 K. Define whether your reference is ambient, inlet fluid or another measurement point.
3 · Follow your heat path
HEAT SOURCE + TIM↓CONTACT WALL → CHANNEL↓DEFINED COOLANT FLOW
A conceptual path, not a CFD result. Agree heat-source area, power, contact stack, sensor locations, fluid condition, inlet temperature and flow.
Review Your Surface and Cleanliness Requirements
Separate your thermal contact faces, sealing interfaces and wetted passages. Confirm the specified final condition with the mating assembly.
Identify thermal contact pads and agreed coating exclusions.
Mask critical fits and sealing faces when required; specify final dimensions.
Agree residues, debris control and port protection appropriate to your application.
A finish is not a universal cooling improvement. Confirm its purpose, compatibility and inspection state. Review surface finishing options →
Illustrative engineering concepts
Define Your Functional Features
Put the dimensions that control sealing, assembly fit and heat transfer on your drawing.
User-supplied product rendering, retouched
Contact footprint
Heat-source map, TIM and clamping stack
Ports and seals
Thread designation, seal land and fitting engagement
Mounting datums
Hole pattern, datum scheme and tool access
Cover and passages
Joining access, wall thickness and cleaning scope
Final condition
Flatness, masking, protected interfaces and inspection state
Resolve 6 Design Risks Before Your Order
Review the final component, its liquid loop and the evidence your project needs before production.
Coolant compatibility
Review every wetted material, seal and treatment with your coolant chemistry, concentration, temperature and service life.
Your input
Controlled drawing and the relevant service conditions.
Your acceptance
Agreed method, inspection state, limits and required records.
Illustrative engineering concept
Pressure drop
For your liquid cold plate pressure drop requirement, define flow, fluid condition and the two pressure measurement locations.
Your input
Controlled drawing and the relevant service conditions.
Your acceptance
Agreed method, inspection state, limits and required records.
Illustrative engineering concept
Flow distribution
Map channel routing to the heat-source layout. Review branch restrictions and possible bypass rather than using total flow alone.
Your input
Controlled drawing and the relevant service conditions.
Your acceptance
Agreed method, inspection state, limits and required records.
Illustrative engineering concept
Ports and seals
Include the thread designation, sealing face, seal material and fitting engagement. Thread size alone does not define a leak-tight connection.
Your input
Controlled drawing and the relevant service conditions.
Your acceptance
Agreed method, inspection state, limits and required records.
Illustrative engineering concept
Final flatness
Specify liquid cold plate flatness tolerance on the final joined and finished part with datums, restraint and inspection method.
Your input
Controlled drawing and the relevant service conditions.
Your acceptance
Agreed method, inspection state, limits and required records.
Illustrative engineering concept
Acceptance scope
Dimensional, leak, proof-pressure, hydraulic and thermal checks answer different questions. Identify the required checks individually.
Your input
Controlled drawing and the relevant service conditions.
Your acceptance
Agreed method, inspection state, limits and required records.
Illustrative engineering concept
5 Checkpoints from Drawing to Repeat Supply
Drawing review
Confirm revision, interfaces and operating inputs.
Route review
Agree materials, joining and final machining.
Sample build
Review the finished component and assembly fit.
Agreed checks
Assess specified dimensions, joints and test records.
Production release
Release the accepted revision, packaging and repeat-order scope.
Request the Evidence Your Application Needs
Illustrative component concept
Your liquid cold plate prototype should separate dimensional approval, sealing checks, flow and pressure-drop checks, and thermal validation. For liquid cold plate leak testing, agree method, medium, pressure or vacuum condition, duration, temperature and allowable leakage. A passed leak test does not prove cooling performance.
- Material identity and drawing revision
- Final contact face, mounting and interface dimensions
- Specified joining and test evidence
- Port or fin protection and shipment release
Review Your Application, Not Just the Outside Shape
Project suitability, manufacturing scope and required records are confirmed from your drawing. These are application review topics, not customer case studies or system certifications.
Power electronics
Match module footprint, insulation, clamp load and the heat-source map.
Inverters and drives
Review switching heat loads, service temperatures and mounting interfaces.
Energy equipment
Agree operating conditions and the component acceptance scope.
Laser power supplies
Review temperature stability requirements, coolant or airflow and service access.
Compute components
Review the exact device footprint, coolant connections and loop conditions.
Test equipment
Identify instrument clearances, heat loads and service access.
Battery test fixtures
Review electrical isolation, contact layout and the specified coolant circuit.
Industrial controls
Match the enclosure interfaces, fluid connections and maintenance plan.
Illustrative assembly and application review topics; no customer case study, system certification or universal fit claim. Explore application requirements →
6 Inputs for Your Liquid Cold Plates Quote
- CAD, controlled drawing + heat-source map
- Heat load + temperature target and reference
- Coolant chemistry, concentration + inlet range
- Flow rate + pressure-drop allowance
- Ports, seals, mounting + final flatness
- Sample quantity, repeat demand + test scope
Ask your quote to separate component manufacturing, joining, finishing, inspection and any independently agreed validation. The drawing review confirms availability, quantities and delivery scope.
Answers Before You Specify
What coolant data is needed for a liquid cold plate quote?
Provide the fluid name and chemistry, concentration, operating and storage temperatures, inlet temperature range, required flow and any cleanliness or corrosion-control requirements. List every wetted material in the intended loop.
Does a leak test confirm liquid cold plate thermal performance?
No. A leak test checks sealing under specified conditions. Thermal performance needs a defined heat-source map, power, interfaces, coolant conditions, flow and temperature measurements.
Which port and seal details should be on my drawing?
Specify the thread standard and size, sealing method and face geometry, seal material, fitting engagement, installation access and any assembly torque requirement agreed with the fitting supplier.
Can a cold plate be CNC machined for a low-volume order?
Submit the channel and cover geometry, material, ports, sample quantity and acceptance plan. CNC machining is one part of the route; joining, cleaning, sealing and final inspection must also be scoped.
When should I compare vacuum brazing with friction stir welding?
Compare when the internal geometry, materials, cover access, final flatness or production plan changes the joining decision. Each route needs a drawing-specific feasibility and acceptance review.
Can the same cold plate serve power electronics and laser cooling?
Only after reviewing the specific heat map, temperature limits, coolant, mounting and loop conditions. A similar outside shape does not establish application suitability.
