Just to make sure I'm not confused(it happens).
The original poster is wanting to make their own LED "modules".
In other words when someone usually orders a 1watt or larger led they actually get a module of led on an aluminum "board".
Due to needing a custom solution the op is wanting to make their own?
It's absolutely correct that almost all commercial solutions are on aluminum, but it isn't required as seen by the datasheets.
But it's clearly the cheapest and easiest to machine/cut/etc. and is probably the way to go.
Since this all started I looked at the led units I've got laying around. They are all indeed aluminum modules. But all that they really are upon closer examination is a wafer thin standard pcb bonded to an aluminum backing. Usually with an epoxy solder mask that appears to obscure the board completely, leaving only solder pads visible.
Some of these units have cutouts in the pcb under the led pad itself so that the led has direct contact with the aluminum backing.
Indium does have solder for aluminum, and aluminum to copper applications, but it is corrosive to standard electronics so other solutions are usually used.
If there are boards that are aluminum over an insulator on an aluminum backing, I clearly have to learn more about those. I might have to fix some someday soon!
Good luck and keep experimenting!
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "jcarlosmor" <jcarlosmor@...> wrote:
>
>
> Hello Roger,
>
> I can see that most users got confused about your question.
>
> I think Roger want to do is simply to make PCBs with aluminum. Am I right Roger?
>
> Instead as the usual copper base, the PCB surface is aluminum. Period.
>
> And although someone did comment about better heat properties of copper instead of aluminum, almost any LED manufacturer in the world is using aluminum instead of copper as the PCB thermal substrate.
>
> Regards.
>
>
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Rogerio F Cunha <rogerio.cunha@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi list,
> >
> > Hello List,
> > Anyone has a idea how to produce a aluminium pcb over a virgin aluminum
> > board?
> > I'm looking a way to home brew a pcb to solder some power leds that are
> > very sensitivy to thermal dissipation.
> > By what I've seen, the companies applying some kind of metal deposit over a
> > virgin aluminium board, to permit soldering.
> > Thanks.
> > Roger.
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>