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caliperhq

Heatsink fin array

parametric array + slice

Parametric base + N parallel fins. Slice exposes the inter-fin gap; push fin count too high and the gap collapses.

Heatsink fin array

What it is

A rectangular base plate with N parallel fins. Fins are equally spaced across the base width with a small edge margin. Pure cuboid arithmetic — no booleans needed; just union of a base and a generated fin array.

Why visual feedback matters

Heatsinks are the canonical "how many fins fit?" parameter exercise. Push finCount up and the inter-fin gap shrinks; below the printer’s wall width the fins merge into a solid block in the slice view, even though the parameter table still says they’re separate.

Screenshots

Slice cuts at `y = 0` (perpendicular to the fins) so each fin appears as a thin vertical bar. Bump `finCount` from 14 toward 30 and watch the bars merge.

Heatsink iso
Iso
Heatsink slice
Slice (between fins)

Parameters

Parameters 7
NameDefaultDescription
baseWidth — mm Base plate width.
baseDepth — mm Base plate depth.
baseThickness — mm Base plate thickness.
finCount — Number of parallel fins.
finHeight — mm Fin height above the base.
finThickness — mm Fin thickness.
finMargin — mm Distance from base edge to outermost fin.

Try it