| Feature / Type |
Skived Fin |
Extruded |
Bonded/Brazed Fin |
Die-Cast |
Cold Forged |
| Thermal Performance |
Superior (no interface resistance, high density) |
Good (limited by fin density) |
Good (reduced by interface resistance) |
Fair (porous structure) |
Excellent (controlled grain structure) |
| Tooling Cost |
Low / None (same tool for each fin) |
Low |
Moderate (for base and fins) |
High |
High |
| Material Options |
Copper, Aluminum |
Aluminum |
Copper, Aluminum |
Aluminum, Zinc |
Copper, Aluminum |
| Construction |
Single Piece |
Single Piece |
Multi-Piece Assembly |
Single Piece |
Single Piece |
| Design Flexibility |
High |
Limited |
High |
Moderate |
High |
| Prototyping |
Easy, Inexpensive, Rapid |
Low Cost |
Moderate |
High Cost |
Moderate |
| Typical Applications |
High Power, Compact |
General, Medium Power |
Very Large Heat Sinks |
Complex Shapes, High Volume |
High Performance, Complex |
| Key Limitation |
Fins can bend easily |
Limited fin density/aspect ratio |
Thermal resistance at joints |
Porous structure, lower conductivity |
High initial tooling cost |
| Fin Density |
Very High (thin fins, no taper) |
Limited (taper required, die strength) |
High (separate fins) |
Limited (casting process) |
High (straight fins) |