Custom Tube-Fin Heat Exchanger

OEM engineers sometimes opt for an off-the-shelf standard cold plate or heat exchanger for prototyping purposes, even though they know they will end up needing a custom product in production. Typically this is done in an effort to save time or money. However, it’s important to note that standard products are usually not designed or manufactured to withstand the demanding requirements and/or harsh environments found in some applications. For example, in military and aerospace applications, shock, vibration, extreme pressure and temperatures, and severe environmental exposure is common. One of Lytron’s customers found this out the hard way, when he purchased an off-the-shelf standard tube-fin heat exchanger for a military application. The heat exchanger failed to withstand the shock and vibration seen in his application, costing him valuable time. He ended up turning to Lytron for the design and manufacture of a custom tube-fin heat exchanger built for the application. 

If you’re unsure about your application’s requirements, we recommend consulting with an engineer before buying. Lytron’s Ask an Engineer form is a great place to start. Lytron’s engineers work extensively with OEM engineers during the design phase of a project or program to provide insight into industry specific requirements and design-for-manufacturability considerations.  

Have you tried a standard and ended up needing a custom?