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GUIDE to determine minimum Aluminum thickness
4

GUIDE to determine minimum Aluminum thickness

GUIDE to determine minimum Aluminum thickness

(OP)
I am looking for a specification to find out what is the minimum Alumimum thickness allowed in Automotive power electronics enclosures. This design is my 1st that I have worked in an Automotive industry, so not sure what spec. to look for.

Thank you in advance.

RE: GUIDE to determine minimum Aluminum thickness

Plenty of those use cast aluminium (it conducts heat well, and it conducts electricity well - grounding). The limitations of the manufacturing process are going to be a significant factor.

RE: GUIDE to determine minimum Aluminum thickness

(OP)
Thank you Greg, IRstuff and Brian for your reply. Yes, it does seem that autos use alot of Aluminum. thank again.

RE: GUIDE to determine minimum Aluminum thickness

I used to design these a long time ago. Aluminum was always used, onboard device drivers necessitate good heat rejection and plastics won't get you there.

Wall thickness was controlled by manufacturability 95% of the time, not by mechanical loads. We were pretty much always going as thin as could be allowed by whatever casting technique we were using for that particular part.

There were a few cases with extreme conditions for things like mining equipment where mechanical loads (mainly vibration) were severe enough to require additional material beyond the manufacturability minimums, but these cases were rare, and often wound up using additional techniques to get PCBs to survive (100% epoxy fill, capacitors welded to cases, etc).

RE: GUIDE to determine minimum Aluminum thickness

(OP)
Thank you SwinnyGG...

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