Heat Sink Attachment Solutions

Advanced Thermal Solutions' heat sink attachments give engineers multiple options to mechanically attach almost any heat sink to PCB boards. Each attachment provides a firm, reliable connection of heat sinks on hot components. The attachment family includes the superGRIP™ heat sink clip, the maxiGRIP™ heat sink clip, and the pushPIN™ heat sink attachment in brass, plastic, and PEM.

ATS's superGRIP and maxiGRIP heat sink clips are ideal for applications that require a secure and sturdy heat sink clip attachment but where holes have not been drilled in the PCB. Both clips are made of one of the highest performance polymers in the industry today. These clips have very high heat resistance, offer superior toughness and impact strength, are flame retardant, and have very high chemical resistance. Both clips provide a strong, uniform attachment force that helps achieve maximum performance from phase-change TIMs. Choose superGRIP heat sink attachment and heat sinks when the highest amount of keep out space is needed around a component. Choose maxiGRIP heat sink attachment and heat sinks for more moderate keep out space requirements and lower cost.

ATS's pushPIN heat sink attachments are ideal when holes have been drilled in a PCB to allow through hole heat sink attachment. This attachment type features brass, stainless-steel, PEM, and plastic. Each of these pushpins has been specifically designed with material types needed for specific application requirements:

• Brass pushpins are useful for applications that are corrosive, high heat, and require a strong, durable material for attachment. Brass can also be used in situations where it is important that sparks not be struck, as in fittings and tools around explosive gases. Brass attachment should not be used in environments that include ammonia or that release ammonia as this compound can cause stress corrosion cracking in brass.
• Screwed in pushpin PEM fasteners are perfect for applications where there is only a plain, round hole. They provide high push-out and torque-out resistance. The holes for these fasteners do not need to be specially prepared by deburring or chamfering. PEMs are also good for meeting DFMA requirements because there are few parts to handle and few assembly steps. Because many of the PEMs used in heat sink applications are made from stainless steel, they have good corrosion resistance, strength, and fabrication characteristics.
• Plastic pushpins are useful for applications where the pushpin heat sink attachment should not conduct heat or electricity. They are a good choice when weight is a critical design factor. Plastic is also a good option when water or high humidity conditions can occur.

With over 108K different pushpin heat sink assembly configurations, ATS has a solution for virtually any electronics cooling application.