CNC-Machined Aluminum Base
Drawing-defined channels and mounting features align the cooling structure with your equipment.
CUSTOM THERMAL MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
Custom FSW
Cold Plates
Manufacturer
Precision CNC-machined aluminum.
Solid-state welded cooling channels.
Bring coolant closer to critical heat sources with a friction stir welded assembly built around your drawings, interfaces and cooling requirements.
Move your cooling design toward production.
Request a Quote- Precision CNC Machining
- Friction Stir Welding
- Custom OEM Manufacturing
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
What Are
FSW Cold Plates?
Friction stir welded cold plates join a CNC-machined aluminum base and cover through a solid-state process. The enclosed channels carry coolant beneath high-power components, transferring heat into the circulating fluid.
Friction Stir Welded Cover
A solid-state joint closes the channels without conventional melting, supporting a compact aluminum assembly.
Sealed Coolant Flow Path
The internal route is tailored to heat sources and pressure-drop targets, helping the plate fit your cooling loop.
Find a cold plate structure that fits your heat sources and installation space.
Discuss Your RequirementsKEY PRODUCT BENEFITS
Why Choose FSW Cold Plates?
Precision-machined channels and solid-state welded joints combine thermal design flexibility with a compact aluminum structure, helping you build cooling around the equipment it needs to protect.
Reliable Welded Joints
Solid-state joining avoids conventional fusion and helps reduce fusion-related defects. Agreed weld controls and leak checks establish a practical basis for coolant sealing.
Efficient Heat Transfer
Custom channels bring coolant closer to concentrated heat sources. The flow path can be matched to your heat map to support application-specific thermal targets.
Precision Manufacturing
CNC machining controls critical mounting features, port locations and contact surfaces. Drawing-defined dimensions help the plate integrate with your assembly.
Integrated Aluminum Structure
A machined base and welded cover form a compact assembly. Combining the coolant path with the plate structure helps preserve valuable installation space.
Design Flexibility
Channel geometry, connections and mounting interfaces follow your design. Manufacturability review identifies constraints before they become production problems.
Repeatable Production
Approved machining and welding plans create a common reference for repeat orders. Defined inspection criteria help keep delivered parts aligned with the accepted design.
Make your cooling requirements part of the manufacturing plan.
Review Your FSW DesignMANUFACTURING PROCESS
How FSW Cold Plates
Are Manufactured
A coordinated route from drawing review to final inspection connects the machined geometry with the welded joint, helping your team define both production scope and acceptance requirements.
01 — Engineering & DFM Review
Review channels, material, tolerances and weld access together. Early feasibility checks help clarify a practical production route.
02 — CNC Channel Machining
Machine the base, fluid passages and functional features to approved drawings, keeping coolant routing aligned with the assembly.
03 — Cover Preparation & Fixturing
Prepare the cover and support the joint in suitable fixtures. Controlled fit and clamping support the planned weld path.
04 — Friction Stir Welding
Join the cover and base along an accessible path using a rotating tool. The solid-state joint closes the coolant channels.
05 — Post-Weld Machining
Complete specified surfaces and critical features after joining so the finished assembly meets its dimensional requirements.
06 — Testing & Final Inspection
Verify agreed dimensions, pressure and leakage criteria. Project-defined records provide a basis for sample or shipment acceptance.
Process reference images supplied with the brief; equipment and inspection arrangements are confirmed for each project.
Identify machining, welding and inspection requirements before production.
Request a Manufacturing Review
COOLANT CHANNEL DESIGN
Precision-Machined
Cooling Channels
Channel layout influences coolant distribution, heat transfer and pressure drop. JBT machines your approved geometry with attention to wall thickness, ports and weld clearance, helping the finished base fit both the cooling circuit and joining process.
Custom Flow Paths
Serpentine, parallel or application-specific routes follow your heat source layout and approved drawings.
Controlled Dimensions
Specified width, depth and wall thickness give manufacturing a clear dimensional reference.
Integrated Connections
Drawing-defined inlet and outlet interfaces simplify alignment with your cooling system.
Weld Path Compatibility
Tool clearance, channel distance and cover support are reviewed to help make the design manufacturable.
Channel geometry follows customer-approved drawings. Thermal and hydraulic performance depend on the complete system and operating conditions.
Have a channel layout that needs a manufacturing review?
Discuss Your Channel DesignMATERIALS & FINISHING OPTIONS
Aluminum Materials, Precision
Tolerances & Surface Finishing
Material, dimensional control and finishing are reviewed together. Manufacturing to an approved specification helps you balance thermal requirements, mechanical fit and coolant compatibility.
Aluminum Material Selection
Alloys such as 6061 can be evaluated for thermal properties, machinability and welding suitability. Confirming the alloy against the operating environment helps establish a suitable material route.
Precision Machining & Tolerances
Critical flatness, mounting surfaces, holes and ports follow the approved technical drawing. Defined inspection requirements help your team evaluate mechanical fit before installation.
Surface Finishing Options
Treatments are evaluated against corrosion, coolant and electrical requirements. A specified finish helps protect relevant surfaces while preserving sealing and contact interfaces.
Surface treatment selection must consider coolant compatibility, channel cleanliness and protected sealing interfaces.
Define material, tolerances and finish together for a more complete RFQ.
Review Your SpecificationsTHERMAL & HYDRAULIC PERFORMANCE
Engineered Around
Your Cooling Requirements
Heat load, coolant conditions and installation limits shape the cold plate specification. Reviewing these inputs together helps your team set meaningful manufacturing and validation requirements.
Thermal Resistance
Set the resistance target and test conditions so cooling performance can be evaluated against your application.
Coolant Flow Rate
Specify fluid and available flow to align channel choices with the cooling loop.
Pressure Drop
Define allowable hydraulic resistance so the selected geometry fits the available pump capacity.
Operating & Test Pressure
Agree service pressure, proof conditions and acceptance limits to establish inspection scope.
Heat Load & Temperature
Provide power dissipation, inlet temperature and allowable component temperature to guide thermal evaluation.
Surface Flatness
Specify critical contact dimensions and surface requirements to support consistent thermal interface assembly.
Share your heat load, coolant conditions and mechanical constraints.
Discuss Thermal RequirementsINDUSTRY APPLICATIONS
FSW Cold Plates for
High-Power Cooling Applications
Custom friction stir welded cold plates put a drawing-defined cooling interface between concentrated heat sources and the liquid loop, supporting compact integration across demanding equipment.
AI Servers & Data Centers
Cooling interfaces for GPU assemblies and high-density servers help route heat into a liquid loop where air cooling space is limited.
EV Batteries & Inverters
An EV battery FSW cold plate can match module footprints and connection requirements, helping integrate liquid cooling into the vehicle assembly.
Industrial Laser Equipment
Application-specific plates remove heat from laser systems and power electronics, supporting temperature management within defined operating limits.
Semiconductor Equipment
Precision mounting and cooling interfaces support sensitive equipment assemblies, helping mechanical and thermal requirements work together.
Energy Storage Systems
Cooling plates for converters and power modules help transfer sustained electrical losses into the system coolant.
Industrial Power Equipment
Custom ports and mounting surfaces fit power supplies and automation equipment, simplifying cooling loop integration.
Have a different application? Share your drawings and cooling requirements.
Discuss Your ApplicationMANUFACTURING PROCESS COMPARISON
FSW vs. Vacuum Brazed Cold Plates
The appropriate joining route depends on geometry, material, joint access and inspection requirements. Understanding these differences helps you select a practical process for your cooling design.
| Design consideration | FSW Cold Plates | Vacuum Brazed Cold Plates |
|---|---|---|
| Joining method | Solid-state mechanical joining | Furnace brazing using filler metal |
| Typical construction | Machined aluminum base with welded cover | Multi-piece brazed assembly |
| Internal geometry | Machined channels with accessible weld paths | Can accommodate complex assemblies and fin structures |
| Filler metal | No conventional filler required | Brazing filler required |
| Heat input | Localized solid-state process | High-temperature furnace cycle |
| Design considerations | Tool access, clamping, weld path and cover support | Joint clearance, filler flow and furnace compatibility |
| Quality verification | Weld integrity, dimensions, pressure and leakage | Brazed joint integrity, dimensions, pressure and leakage |
| Typical selection | Selected aluminum structures with accessible weld paths | Selected complex or multilayer cooling structures |
Choose a process around your design.
No single joining process suits every cold plate. JBT can review drawings, material requirements and critical features to evaluate feasible manufacturing options. Explore vacuum brazed cold plates →
Compare manufacturing routes using your actual geometry and acceptance criteria.
Request a DFM ReviewQUALITY CONTROL & INSPECTION
Quality Verification for
Precision FSW Cold Plates
A defined inspection plan connects critical dimensions and joint requirements with measurable acceptance criteria, helping overseas buyers evaluate the finished component against the approved specification.
Incoming Material Inspection
Review material specifications and relevant documentation before machining, helping establish a traceable starting point.
Dimensional Inspection
Check ports, channels, mounting features and critical tolerances against drawings so your team can assess assembly fit.
Weld Process Control
Define relevant parameters and weld checks in the manufacturing plan to support the agreed joint requirements.
Pressure & Leak Testing
Agree test methods, pressures and leakage limits for the intended application, giving acceptance a measurable basis.
Final Inspection & Documentation
Verify finished parts and prepare applicable records before shipment to support incoming quality review.
Inspection scope, equipment arrangements, material records and any third-party verification are confirmed during RFQ review.
Specify your inspection and documentation needs before quotation.
Discuss Quality RequirementsCUSTOM MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES
Custom FSW Cold Plates
Built to Your Drawings
Build-to-print manufacturing turns your approved geometry into a defined machining, joining and inspection route. This keeps the cold plate aligned with the interfaces and operating needs of your equipment.
Custom Dimensions & Geometry
Use 2D drawings, CAD and assembly requirements to establish the manufacturing scope.
Cooling Channel Machining
Machine custom fluid paths and internal features to the approved geometry.
Mounting & Connection Features
Match threaded holes, mounting surfaces and ports to the surrounding assembly.
FSW Joint & Cover Review
Evaluate cover thickness, tool access and weld paths before production planning.
Finishing & Assembly Support
Coordinate post-weld features, specified finishes and mechanical integration.
Prototype to Production
Use sample approval as a common reference for initial quantities and repeat orders.
Send PDF, STEP, STP, DWG or DXF files with material, quantity, critical tolerances and available performance requirements. Large format FSW cold plate projects require review of part size, weld reach and fixture capacity.
Give your custom FSW cooling plate a clear manufacturing starting point.
Share Your DrawingsOUR MANUFACTURING STRENGTH
CNC Machining & FSW
Manufacturing Capabilities
JBT supports custom aluminum cooling structures through precision machining and coordinated joining, finishing and inspection. A defined production route helps your team manage several component requirements through one manufacturing discussion.
Precision CNC Machining
Machine bases, covers, coolant channels and mounting features to approved drawings, supporting a consistent mechanical interface.
FSW Process Integration
Coordinate joint preparation, clamping and weld planning so machining and joining requirements work together.
Secondary Processing & Finishing
Review post-weld dimensions, surface treatment and assembly requirements to help deliver components ready for integration.
Quality Planning
Define inspection methods and required documentation alongside production, giving purchasing and engineering a shared acceptance basis.
Review equipment fit, production scope and required quality documentation.
Talk to Our Manufacturing TeamFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Your FSW
Cold Plate
Questions,
Answered.
Clarify materials, joining and inspection before you request a quote. Better project inputs help establish a more useful manufacturing review.
What is the main advantage of friction stir welding for cold plates?
FSW joins aluminum in the solid state without conventional melting. A machined base and welded cover form a compact cooling structure; joint design and agreed verification establish its suitability for the application.
Can FSW cold plates be manufactured to custom drawings?
Yes. Supply 2D drawings and 3D CAD so dimensions, channel geometry, material and weld access can be reviewed. Approved files provide a shared manufacturing reference.
What materials are commonly used?
Aluminum alloys are commonly evaluated for their thermal properties, machinability and welding suitability. The final alloy depends on coolant chemistry, mechanical requirements and operating conditions.
How are FSW cold plates tested for leakage?
Test methods, pressures and acceptance limits are agreed for the intended operating conditions. Defined criteria let engineering and quality teams assess results against the same specification.
Can you manufacture complex cooling channels?
CNC machining supports a range of channel layouts. Depth, wall thickness, tool access and distance from the weld path require feasibility review before a geometry is confirmed.
What is the difference between FSW and vacuum brazing?
FSW uses a rotating tool for solid-state joining; vacuum brazing uses a furnace and filler metal. Geometry, material and access determine which process is practical for a particular design.
What information is needed for a quotation?
Provide available 2D/3D files, material, quantity, tolerances, coolant conditions and pressure requirements. Include required inspections and records so the quotation reflects the intended scope.
Do you support prototypes and volume production?
Prototype and repeat-production requirements can be reviewed for each design. Lead time, order quantity and tooling are confirmed after the manufacturing scope is understood.
Still have technical questions about your cold plate design?
Contact Our Engineering TeamOUR CUSTOM MANUFACTURING PROCESS
From Your Drawings
to Finished FSW Cold Plates
A staged approval process connects the initial inquiry with production, giving OEM engineering and purchasing teams a clear view of the inputs and decisions needed at each step.
01 — Submit Your Drawings
Send CAD, quantities, materials and cooling requirements to establish the component scope.
02 — Engineering & DFM Review
Review machining, weld access, tolerances and inspections so production constraints are addressed early.
03 — Quotation & Production Plan
Define manufacturing scope, pricing, tooling and estimated timing in a project-specific quotation.
04 — Prototype Manufacturing
Produce development parts to the approved specification so your team can evaluate the design.
05 — Inspection & Sample Approval
Review agreed checks and samples against acceptance criteria before repeat production.
06 — Production & Delivery
Proceed with approved quantities, final inspection and protective packaging for shipment.
Ready to discuss your custom FSW cold plate project?
Start Your ProjectSTART YOUR CUSTOM PROJECT
Request a Custom
FSW Cold Plate Quote
Send your drawings and requirements for a manufacturing review. Defined geometry, quantities and inspection needs help your team obtain a quotation aligned with the component you intend to build.
- Custom Manufacturing to Your Drawings
- Engineering & DFM Review
- Prototype & Production Support
Get Your Custom Manufacturing Quote
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