Skiving and Microskiving Heatsinks

High-density copper skived heatsink with precision microskived fins for advanced thermal management

Skiving and Microskiving Heatsinks

Skiving is a manufacturing process where thermal solutions are formed by shaving one solid block of copper or aluminum into a finned heatsink. This method eliminates the resistance layer that is present with the solder layer in stacked fin heatsinks since skived fins are built from a single piece of metal. Skived fin heatsinks also require minimal tooling charges, which makes it a cost-effective solution. Skived heatsinks can also be customized with embedded heatpipes to add a performance boost if needed.

Assorted Skived Fin Heatsinks

Assorted skived fin heatsinks, ranging from short to tall fins

Assorted Skived Fin Heatsinks

Copper Skived Fin Heatsink

Copper skived fin heatsink with simple machining features milled into the base

Copper Skived Fin Heatsink

Microskived Cold Plate

Microskived cold plate achieving very fine fin thickness, spacing, and pitch

Microskived Cold Plate

Custom Built Micro-skived Copper Cold Plate

Custom built micro-skived copper cold plate, with fins as thin as 0.1mm and spacing as low as 0.1mm, for pitch of 0.2mm.

Custom Built Micro-skived Copper Cold Plate

Precision Built Heatsink Assembly

Precision built heatsink assembly utilizing multiple alignment pins for locating of the solution onto the chip and board.

Precision Built Heatsink Assembly

Micro-skiving Technology

Micro-skiving technology used for high-performance cold plates to introduce maximum surface area to the flow channel. Heatscape can fabricate 0.1mm thick fins, with 0.1mm fin spacing, or even potentially lower!

Micro-skiving Technology
Assorted Skived Fin Heatsinks Assorted Skived Fin Heatsinks
Copper Skived Fin Heatsink Copper Skived Fin Heatsink
Microskived Cold Plate Microskived Cold Plate
Custom Built Micro-skived Copper Cold Plate Custom Built Micro-skived Copper Cold Plate
Precision Built Heatsink Assembly Precision Built Heatsink Assembly
Micro-skiving Technology Micro-skiving Technology

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a skived heatsink?

A skived heatsink is a thermal solution made by cutting fins directly from a single solid block of metal, typically aluminum or copper. This process eliminates any bonding interface between the base and fins, reducing thermal resistance. As a result, skived heatsinks provide highly efficient heat transfer and are ideal for high-performance and high-power cooling applications.

How is microskiving different from standard skiving?

Microskiving is an advanced form of skiving that produces extremely thin, closely spaced fins to maximize surface area. This allows for superior heat dissipation in compact and high heat flux environments. Microskived designs are commonly used in advanced thermal management systems where space is limited and performance demands are high.

When should I use a skived heatsink instead of other types?

You should use a skived heatsink when maximum thermal performance and minimal thermal resistance are required. It is especially suitable for compact designs where efficient heat removal is critical. This makes it ideal for high-power electronics and applications with limited space for airflow or cooling components.

What are the advantages of skived heatsinks over bonded fin designs?

Skived heatsinks offer better thermal performance because they are manufactured from a single piece of material without bonded joints. This eliminates interface resistance and improves durability under high heat loads. The result is a more reliable, efficient, and long-lasting cooling solution compared to bonded fin designs.

How fine can fins be in microskived heatsinks?

Microskived heatsinks can achieve extremely fine fin thickness and spacing, often as low as 0.1 mm. This significantly increases the available surface area for heat dissipation. The enhanced fin density allows efficient cooling in high-performance systems with tight space and high thermal demands.

Can skived heatsinks be used in liquid cooling applications?

Yes, skived and microskived structures are commonly used in liquid cooling systems such as cold plates. Their fine fin geometry increases surface area within fluid channels, improving heat transfer between the coolant and the heated surface. This results in more efficient and consistent thermal performance.

What applications benefit most from skiving and microskiving heatsinks?

Skived and microskived heatsinks are widely used in data centers, power electronics, and high-performance computing systems. These applications require high fin density and efficient thermal management. They are ideal for environments where space is limited and reliable cooling is critical for system stability.

What is a heatsink calculator?

A heatsink calculator helps estimate thermal performance by analyzing heat dissipation, airflow, and material properties to determine optimal cooling solutions.