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MESSTEC Power Converter GmbH
Operating Manual
TEC Controller
Document: 10100920OM
Revision: 1.1
Date: 10.10.2019
Page 11/71
4. The Setup
– General Instructions
4.1. Mechanical Setup
Figure 5 shows a general setup of a laser diode system and its appropriate cooling
equipment. Here, just the mere schematic mechanical setup is drafted.
Fig. 5: General Setup
The general setup consists of:
laser diode
Heatspreader with integrated temperature sensor
Peltier Element
Heatsink
The laser diode as the heat source in this setup has to be mounted on an appropri-
ate heatspreader. The heatspreader (also called cooling plate) is a solid block, made
of copper or aluminum.
Usually the base area of the heatspreader is larger than that of the Peltier Element
because of the required mounting holes. The temperature sensor is positioned inside
the heatspreader. For this purpose an appropriate hole or notch has to be machined
into the heatspreader directly below the laser diode. Make sure, the temperature
sensor is properly fixed and has best thermal contact (use gap-filler or thermally
conductive glue). Use a temperature sensor with small thermal mass.
Note: Design and workmanship of the heatspreader and the location of the
temperature sensor in the heatspreader has great impact on the final quality
and stability of the closed loop control of the temperature.