Source for heat sink

[TarHeelTom]

I've got three geckos sitting here, waiting for a pdmx-132 to show up. Just realized today that I need to put the geckos inside a cabinet, and that they need a heat sink.

Anyone got a specific recommendation for a particular heatsink (and supplier) which works well with four geckos hung on the back?

Also, if I put the bob and geckos inside a cabinet with a heat sink on the outside of the cabinet, what's the best way to get the printer cable to the inside of the cabinet? I've seen those pics of the gecko with all the aluminum swarf shorting out the components. I mill more aluminum than anything else. Don't need that kind of problem.

Thanks

Tom

[Al_The_Man]

The best way is a cable where you can attach the 25 pin D to after bringing the cable through a 1/2" conduit strain relief, these have a rubber grommet that tightens down on to the cable.
The down side is you have to attach a 25 pin D plug on one end yourself, there are solder types, but the easy way is to borrow a crimper.
Otherwise you could cut a D shape in the enclosure and fit threaded standoffs to secure the internal cable end , this requires two cables. One inside, one outside.
If you need heatsink material, look for a supplier that sells heatsink extrusion by the foot.
Or you can use thin sections of 80/20.
I have also found some large surplus Intel processor heatsinks that were 4"x3" by 1.5" high.
Al.

[TarHeelTom]

What is 80/20? Keep seeing that everywhere, but don't know what it is....

Tom

[Al_The_Man]

http://www.8020.net/
Many build machines out of it.
Al.

[TarHeelTom]

Thanks, Al. Guess I'd seen that stuff before, but didn't know what it was.

Tom