lapping

[Jeff Bolton]

can someone please fill me in as to what "lapping" is? i've seen a lot of people talking about it and i just want to know, cause it may be something that i can do to get some better temps.

thanks,
jeff

[Sonny]

Lapping = To make flat/plane a surface. Basically to make sure that your HSFs base is totally flat so that it contacts the die/core properly. There are 2 schools of thought here;

Mirror Finish - Some people will sand their HS until they get it to shine like a mirror. Idea being that extreme flat will conduct heat the best. After going thru a few grits, sandpaper grade usually from 400 - 1500, a "clean" polish is used to rubb down any peaks & valleys that can not be done with the sandppaper & cleaned of with a degreaser to make sure no residue is left in the microscopic pores of the material.

Dull finish - No need to go mirror finish as a "rough" surface will have slightly more surface area & it will let the thermal paiste do its job better. 400-1000 grit sandpapper then a cleaning. Not as impressive but to say the least is just as good as the mirror finish.

All you need are a few grits of sandpaper & a FLAT work surface.

[Jeff Bolton]

thanks

i think the alpha heastink i want is already mirror finished on the bottom :D

jeff