FAQ's
Please click on a topic/question below for answers to our most FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
PLACING AN ORDER:
How do I place an order at your website?
I need a heatsink that is wider/narrower or taller/shorter, can you create a custom heatsink for me?
Do you have any more profiles available that are not currently listed on your website?
ADD-ON SERVICES:
Do you offer machine work services, such as drilling/tapping/face milling?
SHIPPING:
I want my order to ship using my own carrier account, how do I do this?
I did not receive a valid shipping option (only prompt to use my own carrier)?
Do you ship outside the United States?
What do I do if my heatsink is damaged, lost of stolen during shipment?
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS:
What is your standard cut length tolerance and can I specify a special tolerance?
What are the °C/W/3" ratings for your heatsinks?
Can you give me advice on which heatsink will work best for my project?
I received my heatsink and the base is bowed, is this normal?
Please follow the instructions below, or give us a call to order by phone.
(any reference to 3.5" length is only an example):
1. Choose your required profile width from the selections on the left. (To download a document with detailed specifications for all of our available profiles please click here.)
2. Select the "Choose Options" link.
3. Choose the required finished length in inches (choose next highest inch if you need to specify a length off the whole inch) ***PLEASE NOTE***Our standard tolerance on the length cut is +.020/-.000”. We can hold a +/- .010” or even a +/- .005 if specifically requested. If you require a special tolerance, please note this on the order either in the notes or in the "specific cut length" field. Of course you can always just give us a call or email us if you have any questions on cut to length tolerances. .
4. If a more specific length is needed, for example a 3.5" length, select 4" length, then type 3.5" in the specific cut length field.
5. Select the quantity of heatsinks to be cut to your required length.
6. Add to cart.
We can, in some cases, customize our existing profiles to produce the width needed by performing vertical cuts to our profiles ($50.00 minimum charge, please contact us for quote). Please do not use the "specific cut length" field to request vertical cuts, this field is for specific cut lengths only, doing so will delay your order.
We can also quote the addition of machining services to our heatsinks to your specifications, please contact us for a quote.
We can cut any of our profiles to any length up to 75".
In some cases, to create the perfect heatsink for your application, the purchase/creation of an extrusion die is required. If you feel your volume requirements warrant the expense of tooling, please contact us for quote. This is typically done for large quantities (1,500 lbs and over) with orders placed on a regular basis.
We purchase our new dies and add them to our collection based on customer feedback and requests.
All of our currently available profiles are listed on our website. We add profiles to our website periodically, based on customer requests/feedback. To download a document with detailed specifications for all of our available profiles please click here.
Because we custom cut our extrusions to length per order, please be sure your measurements for custom cuts are accurate. If you receive something other than what you ordered, contact us at 1.800.901.2395 or sales@heatsinkusa.com and we will arrange an immediate replacement or refund of all charges. However, if you are requesting an RMA on heatsinks that have been received as ordered; these will be subject to a 30% restocking fee and return shipping will be at the customers expense. Any handling or cut fees are non-refundable. If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item. Or you may contact us to initiate a return.
NOTE: INSPECTION AND RETURNS – Buyer shall inspect product within fourteen (14) business days of delivery. Prior to returning any product to Seller, Buyer shall obtain a return material authorization (RMA) from Seller along with Seller’s specific instructions. Seller will not accept any product returned without a proper RMA number issued by Seller.
Damaged, Lost or Stolen Product
Question: What do I do if my heatsink arrives damaged, is lost in transit or stolen?
HeatsinkUSA’ s packaging department uses extreme care to ensure the integrity of the heatsink by wrapping our product tightly and securely to protect them. Although it is not common, damage can occur in all methods of shipping.
We ask that you report the receipt of a damaged product within 48 hours of delivery and do not discard the damaged item or its packaging. Once you notify us that your product is damaged, HeatsinkUSA will request a photo of the damage material including packaging. HeatsinkUSA will then file a claim with the shipper. Failure to report damages in this time frame could result in a claim being denied by the carrier. If this occurs, HeatsinkUSA cannot accept responsibility for the damages.
The claim processes vary, depending on shipping carrier, and typically take an average of 14-20 business days. Please do not discard the damaged product or the packaging. Typically, the shipper will be dispatched to pick the item up for inspection and processing. We'll need your help by making it available for pickup on the scheduled date and time.
HeatsinkUSA is not responsible for reimbursement of any labor costs or project delays that may occur due to the receipt of damaged goods. The standard return policy will apply.
HeatsinkUSA is not responsible for reimbursement of material, labor costs and/or project delays that may occur due to loss of any packages while in transit.
Furthermore, we are not responsible for reimbursement of material, labor costs and/or project delays that may occur due to theft of any packages after the product has been delivered.
Machining Heatsinks
Question: Do you do any machine work to your heatsinks?
Yes, we now offer quality machine work at affordable prices. Contact us today for a quote. Please provide us with the material required, a drawing with detailed dimensional information and the quantities you would like to have quoted. Please also provide a contact phone/email in the event the machinist has questions on the drawing.
****** PLEASE NOTE: HEATSINKUSA DOES NOT OFFER ANY KIND OF FINISHING (ANODIZING, POWDERCOAT, ETC.) If your drawing includes finishing specifications, the pricing quoted WILL NOT INCLUDE finishing, so parts will need to be sent elsewhere for this service. ******
If you need a CAD file to aid in the creation of a drawing for an RFQ submission, please contact us and provide an email address to send it to.
Anodizing
No, we no longer offer anodizing as a add-on service due to lack of providers in our area.
Shipping using your own UPS or FedEx account
If you would like us to use your shipping account (UPS or FedEx) to ship your order, please choose the "I have a UPS or FedEx account...." shipping option during checkout. Prior to completing your order, you can leave your carrier information in the Order Comments/Instructions field. You may also call 1-800-901-2395 or send us a contact form with this information.
Only shipping option is "I have a UPS or FedEx account...."
If you did not receive a quote for UPS or USPS shipping, it is most likely due to the total weight of your order exceeding the carrier's weight limits. If this happens, and you do not have a UPS or FedEx account number, please contact us for a quote for shipping. Also, check your address, an incorrect zip code will result in the carriers not being able to calculate your shipping.
We can ship to virtually any address in the world that the United State Postal Service will allow. There are weight and size restrictions, and some products cannot be shipped to certain international destinations.
Please also note that the shipping rates for our heatsinks are determined by weight and size. The weight per inch of our heatsinks is provided in the specification listing for each profile, or on our available profiles sheet. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.
Although aluminum is typically thought of as a "lightweight" metal, this is not generally the case with heatsinks and they can weigh more than one may think (our profiles can weigh up to 1 lb/inch). Shipping costs are calculated while in your cart by sending the weight/size information to the various carriers, then they in turn provide a shipping cost based on that information.
Our standard tolerance on the length cut is +.0200/-0.00”. We can hold a +/- .010” or even a +/- .005 if specifically requested. (This may result in additional cut charge) If you require a special tolerance, please note this on the order either in the notes or in the "specific cut length" field. Of course you can always just give us a call or email us if you have any questions on cut to length tolerances.
We have provided Approximate °C/W/3" ratings for each profile which can be found in the specifications on the product page. They are also included in our currently available profiles sheet. These approximate °C/W/3" values are based on natural convection: 70 C temp rise above ambient, based on a single 1" (25.4mm) square heat source centered on the heat sink. If you have distributed loads, then you can expect about a 10% better performance in natural convection and 20% better performance in forced convection. We STRONGLY recommend customers perform their own thermal testing in relation to your specific project. HeatsinkUSA is not responsible for any damage to property, electronics, machinery, etc. caused by insufficient dissipation of heat.
www.heatsinkcalculator.com has also provided an online thermal calculator that may assist you in your calculations:
https://www.heatsinkcalculator.com/calculator_heatsinkusa.html
HeatinkUSA does not offer specific advice regarding the thermal properties of our heatsinks or how they can or should be used in your specific application. Our heatsinks are used in a huge variety of projects and applications and we do not have expertise in the numerous uses for our heatsinks. We do not have a thermal engineer on staff.
We have provided Approximate °C/W/3" ratings for each profile which can be found in the specifications on the product page. They are also included in our currently available profiles sheet. These approximate °C/W/3" values are based on natural convection: 70 C temp rise above ambient, based on a single 1" (25.4mm) square heat source centered on the heat sink. If you have distributed loads, then you can expect about a 10% better performance in natural convection and 20% better performance in forced convection. We STRONGLY recommend customers perform their own thermal testing in relation to your specific project. HeatsinkUSA is not responsible for any damage to property, electronics, machinery, etc. caused by insufficient dissipation of heat.
www.heatsinkcalculator.com has also provided an online thermal calculator that may assist you in your calculations:
https://www.heatsinkcalculator.com/calculator_heatsinkusa.html
Heatsinks, because of the way they are produced (extrusion), are never perfectly flat. HeatsinkUSA heatsinks are produced at an ISO9001 certified extruder that strives to stay well within standard industry tolerances for flatness, twist, etc. If your application requires the base of the heatsink to be perfectly flat, face milling is recommended. We can provide a quote for this if requested. Please contact us if you wish to submit an RFQ for this or any other additional machining services.
