bigger heatsink and common heatsink for vna and calibrator

[ringo458]

I feel like it runs too hot so I was thinking about using front panel express to make a new bottom with legs and stick an aluminum radiator under there. I see (likely) metric cap screws and there may be routing of the unseen interior face which I can do so the system itself sees no change. I'd also attach the calibrator to this proposed plate. I don't use this as a portable. One issue I might for-see is the calibrator trying to make the whole volume of aluminum have the right temperature but it might just have an interior heat plate.

I guess I could use bars to essentially strap the VNA onto the plate using some pressure. Any reason not to try to cool it off? Sometimes i see it lose lock and a red light goes on and I wonder if that is temperature.

[jankae]

You could also just stick a heat sink to the existing aluminum case. If you use a little bit of thermal paste that should make a very good connection.

By the way: all the data (like the type of screws and the exact routing of the aluminum case) is all available in this repository, no need to guess. For example, the screws (M3x8mm) are mentioned in the BOM and the 3D CAD files for the bottom and top aluminum case are also available.

I'd also attach the calibrator to this proposed plate.

This might not be a good idea. The LibreCAL attempts to regulate its internal temperature with a resistive heater. The heater (and the heated parts) are thermally isolated from the case (at least a little bit) but it can still only heat and not cool. The target temperature for the LibreCAL is 35°C. If you attach it to something that could get hotter (e.g. if you share a plate between the LibreVNA and LibreCAL), the LibreCAL even with the heater completely off may exceed that temperature.