Thermal performance of the PCB is very important to achieve the longest life possible for a product. To eliminate the heat, designers use heat sinks with thermal paste as a mechanism to pull the heat out of the PCB especially the IC present on the PCB. Holding the heat sink in place is a challenge in harsh environments. For holding the heat sink in place, wedge locks are used which are mounted on the PCB.
Features of Wedge Locks:
Secure Clamping – Provides high retention force to keep heat sinks or thermal plates in place.
Thermal Conductivity – Ensures good contact between surfaces for better heat transfer.
Vibration Resistance – Used in harsh environments (e.g., avionics, military applications).
Tool-less or Tool-Required Designs – Some use screws, others use quick-lock mechanisms.
Below image shows an example of the wedge lock:
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