There are 819 kinds of Thermal Interface Material (TIM) - those greases, putties, pads and phase change compounds that go between hot electronic components and their heat sinks - and just as many ways to misuse them. This article covers all of them by stating: If a TIM disappoints, it is all your fault for making one or more of these silly mistakes. Never Learning How to Make a … [Read more...]
Threatened With a Pipe
I have become a Heel Dragger. When natural convection was all the rage, I was touting fans. Once fan cooling became the status quo, I started dropping hints about heat pipes and thermoelectric coolers. The technology roadmap showed nothing but higher power ahead, and I would soon need those fancier cooling tools. Now everybody senses that this air cooling act is growing stale, … [Read more...]
Nostradamitech
The big electronics design show was in town. Gino suggested we blow off work for the day and check it out. I was a little short on promotional pens and key chains, so I fell in with him. Gino is OK, even if he's one of those Reliability Engineers. The cavernous convention center was packed with flashy booths of the usual component, CAD-tool and test equipment vendors. It's … [Read more...]
The Weakest Link in Air Cooling
So far, this 21st Century has been a big disappointment. I grew up on the science fiction of the 1950's and 60's. Plus I knew that the stories of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells had turned out to be amazingly accurate predictions of real technological advances. So I was expecting that, if I lived long enough to see the 21st Century (no way - I'll be in my 40's!), I'd be … [Read more...]
Selective Surfaces
"Who's that guy with the gigantic novelty scissors?" I asked. "That's Percy," Herbie said, "VP of the Biological Intercommunications Group, BIG for short. The Lost Pet Tracking System has been his baby since Day One." There was a festive air at the Prairieton Police Station, kids holding dogs on leashes, colorful balloons tied to squad cars, even the high school marching … [Read more...]
