Connecting the Dots
Get the heat out
One of the principles I have always adhered to was that of being willing to try new things. Over the years at Aurora Circuits, we have always tried to get involved in new and innovative technologies that make sense, that are synergistically and extension of our existing processes and areas of expertise.
Because we have always been in the Heavy Copper space (as much as 20 ounce and above) we have always been deeply involved with thermal technology and heat dissipation. One might say that we were into LEDs before it was cool.
I believe that the secret to having a successful company is to find something you’re good at and perfect it. That’s what we have done at Aurora with thermal technology.
What a lot of people don’t realize is that Aurora Circuits was build as what we called back then a “punch and crunch” shop, we built single sided PCB to complement the other family shop Kalmus and associates where we were building the higher technology PCBs.
Then we consolidated the two shops into Aurora here in Aurora, Illinois since this was a better facility in a more accessible part of the greater Chicago region.
Early on many of the LED pcbs or “lighting boards” as they were called, we’re single sided and that is why we go into that technology.
The point I am trying to make here is that you have to adapt. You have to take what you are good at and make it the building block for your next technology market.
Currently we are getting involved in EV automotive work because once again that fits perfectly into our technology base. Obviously, these vehicles carry a lot of current which translates into heat dissipation which translate in …you guess it, heavy copper boards.
The latest technology we are now offering is Pedestal technology where you create a pedestal so that it is equal in height to the to the dielectric and copper foil from the base copper. Since the component is attached directly to the copper base, you can use lower wattage dielectrics on the remaining PCB since most of the heat will be dissipated through the pedestal. Copper filled thermal vias increase the amount of copper available, but you do not get a maximum amount of heat out of the component. Easier to fabricate then copper inlays. This technology maximizes the thermal dissipation of the component by up to 300+W/Mk when attached to the pedestal.
We sell this technology to companies that build Power Devices, AC/AC, AC/DC and DC/DC Convertors, Power Supplies, Automotive Displays, LED Lighting. Anything that carries a great deal of current which produces heat that has to be controlled.
In the end, it’s all about connecting the dots, the technology dots until you find a problem that these dots will solve. Interesting stuff that.
If you are looking for a way to escape the heat in your PCBs, please do not hesitate to give me a call.
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