[sdiy] thermal coupling question

[Tom May]

Michael Schulze <michael.schulze at oberlin.edu> writes:

> I have a question for the group on thermal coupling.
> 
> I am building a quad vco based on Jorgen Bergfor's design.  The expo
> converter (in my circuit) contains of a tempco resistor and a MAT-02
> transistor pair.  The MAT-02 is in a can enclosure - you know - like a TO-72
> but with 6 leads.  The pcb has a space for an 8 pin dip on which Jorgen
> assembled smt devices.  Not being an smt whiz I am just assembling my two
> huge crude components on an 8 pin dip header.
> 
> So my question is how to achieve the best thermal contact.  Do the two
> components need to be physically touching or can they just be next to each
> other with a dollop of some magical heat conducting compound binding them
> (...in the darkness...).  I'd hope to come up with something more elegant
> than heat sink grease...

I used Arctic Alumina thermal epoxy, and wrapped some copper around the
assembly for good measure.

http://www.svcompucycle.com/araltherad.html

Tom.