Injection Molding
Tooling and molding for your repeat plastic parts.
YOUR INTERFACES · YOUR CONDITIONS · YOUR ACCEPTANCE
Vacuum Brazed Cold Plates
for Your Internal Passages & Final Fit
Review the internal structure and the finished contact face together. Define base and cover materials, filler compatibility, joining surfaces, post-braze flatness and the leak-test records your project requires.
Illustrative component concept
Drawing
Critical geometry & interfaces
Materials
Grades, condition & compatibility
Joining
Defined route & final state
Evidence
Agreed methods & records
Start with Your Joined Assembly Requirements
Review the material system, enclosed passages and final contact surface together. Define the evidence your assembled part needs before the cover closes.
- Define base, cover, insert and filler
- Review joint surfaces and internal support
- Specify post-braze flatness and final machining
- Separate leak, pressure and thermal checks
- Confirm the sample and acceptance evidence
Material system
Identify base, cover, insert and filler specifications together, including the required final condition.
Joint and passages
Review mating surfaces, internal support, channel continuity and cleanliness before joining.
Final contact face
Allow for the joining cycle and any final machining when specifying post-braze flatness.
Acceptance records
Agree drawing, material, joining, dimensional and sealing evidence before sample approval.
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 →
Friction Stir Welded Cover
Review weld access, support, material and final machining.
Review route requirements →
Your Released Route
Record the agreed construction, final machining and acceptance state.
Review route requirements →
Vacuum Brazed Internal Structure
Review internal inserts, joint surfaces, filler compatibility and the required final condition.
Review route requirements →Illustrative engineering concepts
Plan the Joined Internal Structure Before the Cover Closes
HEAT MAP & INTERFACES↓MATERIAL & JOINING SYSTEM↓SAMPLE & AGREED CHECKS↓APPROVED FINISHED PART
Vacuum brazing joins prepared mating surfaces using a compatible filler that melts below the base material. Internal fins or channels need a defined joining and fluid path. Your vacuum brazed cold plate channel design must allow manufacturing, cleaning and the agreed inspection approach.
- 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.
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 |
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. 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 →
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.
Define the contact area, machining allowance and final inspection state.
Specify the finished thread, fitting engagement and agreed sealing surfaces.
Agree cleaning, residues, port protection and the evidence accessible after joining.
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.
Illustrative joined-structure concept
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 finished joint, final geometry and required evidence before releasing your vacuum brazed assembly.
Post-braze flatness
Specify the final vacuum brazed cold plate flatness after joining and agreed machining, with datums, contact area and inspection restraint.
Your input
Controlled drawing and the relevant service conditions.
Your acceptance
Agreed method, inspection state, limits and required records.
Illustrative engineering concept
Leak method
Vacuum brazed cold plate leak testing must cover the finished wetted path, including ports. Define medium, method, units, conditions and acceptance limit.
Your input
Controlled drawing and the relevant service conditions.
Your acceptance
Agreed method, inspection state, limits and required records.
Illustrative engineering concept
Pressure checks
Distinguish operating pressure, proof-pressure testing and destructive burst testing. They are separate requirements with separately agreed limits.
Your input
Controlled drawing and the relevant service conditions.
Your acceptance
Agreed method, inspection state, limits and required records.
Illustrative engineering concept
Material compatibility
Review vacuum brazed cold plate material and filler compatibility with the process and coolant. Stock material properties do not describe the final brazed assembly.
Your input
Controlled drawing and the relevant service conditions.
Your acceptance
Agreed method, inspection state, limits and required records.
Illustrative engineering concept
Corrosion and cleanliness
Assess vacuum brazed cold plate corrosion risk using coolant chemistry, temperature, wetted materials, cleanliness and the intended maintenance plan.
Your input
Controlled drawing and the relevant service conditions.
Your acceptance
Agreed method, inspection state, limits and required records.
Illustrative engineering concept
Joining alternative
Compare vacuum brazed versus friction stir welded cold plates using internal geometry, material, cover access, final machining and required evidence—not a generic process ranking.
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.
Approve a Post-Braze Sample Package
Illustrative component concept
Before selecting a vacuum brazed cold plate manufacturer or supplier, confirm the proposed manufacturing and inspection scope for your drawing. A sample package should identify the released revision, material system, agreed joining records, final dimensional results and specified leak or pressure checks. Thermal validation is a separate agreed scope.
- 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.
Thermal test fixtures
Define contact layout, inlet conditions and the agreed validation scope.
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 Vacuum Brazed Cold Plates Quote
- CAD, cover + internal passage drawing
- Base, insert, cover + filler requirements
- Heat-source map + coolant conditions
- Ports, operating pressure + sealing criteria
- Post-braze flatness + machining allowance
- Prototype quantity + required sample records
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 records should accompany a vacuum brazed cold plate sample?
Agree the controlled drawing, material identity, joining traceability, final dimensional results and the specified sealing or pressure records. Identify any separate flow or thermal validation and its conditions.
How should post-braze flatness be specified?
Define the final contact area, datums, allowable deviation, restraint and measurement method after joining and any agreed final machining. Review the machining allowance and remaining wall thickness together.
Is helium leak testing mandatory for every vacuum brazed cold plate?
No universal helium requirement is assumed. Specify helium testing only when your application or contract requires it, with method, sensitivity, units and acceptance limit. Other agreed leak methods have different purposes and limitations.
Does proof-pressure testing replace a leak test?
No. A proof test checks an agreed structural pressure condition; a leak test evaluates sealing with its own method and limit. Define both separately when your project requires both.
Can I use a stock alloy data sheet as the final brazed-part property?
No. Alloy, product form, temper, filler and the joining cycle matter. Confirm the required final condition and acceptance evidence; do not assume pre-braze strength or conductivity automatically remains unchanged.
What is needed for a custom vacuum brazed cold plate quote?
Provide base and cover geometry, internal passages or insert, material and filler requirements, ports, coolant, pressure conditions, final flatness, quantities and the required sample records.
