Standard Heatsinks | Off-The-Shelf Thermal Solutions
What Is a Standard Heatsink?
A standard heatsink is an off-the-shelf thermal management component designed to dissipate heat from electronic devices through conduction, convection, and radiation. Standard heatsinks provide a cost-effective, readily available solution for managing component temperatures without the lead times associated with custom designs.
Cooling Source offers a broad portfolio of high-performance standard heatsinks engineered to meet the thermal, mechanical, and reliability requirements of modern electronic systems.
Types of Standard Heatsinks
Cooling Source standard heatsinks are available in multiple configurations to support a wide range of power densities, airflow conditions, and mounting requirements:
• Extruded Aluminum Heatsinks
- Cost-effective solution for low to medium power dissipation
- Ideal for natural or forced convection environments
- Available in straight fin and pin fin geometries
• Skived Fin Heatsinks
- High fin density for improved thermal performance
- Suitable for higher power applications and limited airflow
- Single-piece construction for low thermal resistance
• Bonded Fin Heatsinks
- Optimized for high heat flux applications
- Excellent surface area to volume ratio
- Compatible with high airflow systems
• Pin Fin Heatsinks
- Omnidirectional airflow capability
- Effective in natural convection and variable airflow conditions
- Compact footprint
• Low-Profile Heatsinks
- Designed for height-restricted enclosures
- Optimized for compact electronics and embedded systems
Mounting Options
Standard heatsinks are offered with multiple attachment methods to simplify integration:
- Thermal tape or phase-change materials
- Push-pin mounting
- Screw or bolt-down mounting
- Clip-on and spring-loaded attachments
All mounting options are engineered to ensure consistent contact pressure and repeatable thermal performance.
Benefits of Standard Heatsinks
- Short lead times – readily available off-the-shelf solutions
- Lower cost compared to custom thermal assemblies
- Proven thermal performance with validated designs
- Scalable across multiple platforms and programs
- Easy integration into existing PCB and enclosure designs
- Reliable operation across wide temperature ranges
Applications
Standard heatsinks from Cooling Source are widely used in:
- Power electronics and power supplies
- Industrial controls and automation
- Telecommunications and networking equipment
- Medical devices
- LED lighting systems
- Embedded computing platforms
- Consumer and commercial electronics
Markets Served
Cooling Source standard heatsinks support demanding markets including:
- Industrial and factory automation
- Telecommunications and data infrastructure
- Medical electronics
- Aerospace and defense
- Transportation and rail systems
- Energy and power conversion
Engineering Support & Quality
All standard heatsinks are designed with thermal performance, mechanical robustness, and manufacturability in mind. Cooling Source provides engineering support to assist with heatsink selection, thermal modeling, and validation testing, ensuring optimal performance in your specific application.
ITAR & Compliance Statement
Cooling Source supports ITAR-regulated and defense-related programs. Select standard heatsinks and thermal solutions can be supplied in compliance with ITAR requirements, including controlled manufacturing processes, documentation, and program segregation when required. Please contact Cooling Source to discuss compliance needs for defense and aerospace applications.
Standard Heatsink Technology Selection Guide
Use the table below to quickly identify the most appropriate standard heatsink type based on thermal load, airflow, space constraints, and mounting requirements.
Heatsink Type |
Power Dissipation Range |
Airflow Condition |
Profile / Density |
Typical Mounting |
Key Advantages |
Typical Applications |
Extruded Aluminum Heatsink |
Low to Medium | Natural or Forced | Medium | Thermal tape, screws, clips | Cost-effective, robust, short lead time | Power supplies, industrial controls, embedded electronics |
Pin Fin Heatsink |
Low to Medium | Natural or Variable | Compact | Tape, push pin, adhesive | Omnidirectional airflow, good for unknown airflow | LEDs, fanless systems, compact enclosures |
Skived Fin Heatsink |
Medium to High | Forced | High fin density | Screw mount, clips | High thermal performance, low thermal resistance | CPUs, power semiconductors, telecom equipment |
Bonded Fin Heatsink |
High | Forced | Very high density | Screw mount | Excellent surface area, scalable performance | Power conversion, data infrastructure |
Low-Profile Heatsink |
Low to Medium | Forced | Low height | Tape, screws | Fits height-restricted designs | Embedded systems, compact electronics |
Push-Pin Mounted Heatsink |
Low to Medium | Natural or Forced | Medium | Push pins | Fast installation, reworkable | PCBs, prototyping, field-serviceable designs |
Why Cooling Source
With decades of experience in thermal management, Cooling Source delivers reliable, high-performance standard heatsinks backed by engineering expertise, responsive support, and a commitment to quality.