How to drill holes for vero 29?

I am trying to set up a cob light for the first time, ive been reading all day and I think I have the gist of things down.

I understand how to calculate everything and match the cobs with the driver.

I am working on understanding how to pick the heatsink lol. When I do find the right heatsink though, how do I attach the cobs to it? I want to fit 4 cobs on 1 heatsink but I'm really struggling figuring this one out.

Any advice is much appreciated!

Make a pattern of the fastening holes for whatever holder you are going to use, and drill and tap em. Alternatively, you could be lazy like i was, and just get some thermal adhesive and glue the cobs straight to the heatsink. If you go that route you will have to solder the wires to the cobs.
If you have one burn out you will have to use heat and a chisel or something to remove it though.

If you do decide to drill and tap the holes, buy an aluminum specific tap, and go easy. Taps that small will clog and snap pretty easy.

Thanks boatguy! Is there a heatsink you'd reccomend for these specifically? I'm on some type of ibformation overload haze lol. I want to go ahead and order one, but I keep second guessing everything I see.

Also as far as drilling these, can it be done with a regular drill driver?

Northmam said:

Also as far as drilling these, can it be done with a regular drill driver?

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Yes. Aluminum is easy to machine with normal wood working tools. I cut mine with my normal chop saw and tablesaw. It taps funny though because it easily clogs the threads and snaps taps. You should use a hand tap holder for that, and clear it a few times while tapping the hole. Not all at once.
Mcmaster carr carries aluminum taps, and drill bits.
The easiest option would be to get individual heat sinks from rapidled or whoever else carries them. The are predrilled and tapped for vero's, cree's etc and are good to 75 watts or so per heatsink

Print out a template,tape to your heat sink and drill, or get the cutsheet for vero 29, that has the distances as well. You can use self tapping machine screws, if you don't want to buy a tapper, short as possible is better
This is the RapidLED heatsink with the holes

Boatguy said:

The easiest option would be to get individual heat sinks from rapidled or whoever else carries them. The are predrilled and tapped for vero's, cree's etc and are good to 75 watts or so per heatsink

Click to expand...

DCcan said:

Print out a template,tape to your heat sink and drill, or get the cutsheet for vero 29, that has the distances as well. You can use self tapping machine screws, if you don't want to buy a tapper, short as possible is better
This is the RapidLED heatsink with the holes


View attachment 4553000

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Whoa.... how did you ever find a guide for QUADRUPLE VERO29 drilling pattern? How bizarre..

Thats the bottom of a RapidLED heatsink , pre drilled for different COBs

You can print it out for template, uses #3 holes for vero, or #6 holes for leidil bracket,

DCcan said:

Thats the bottom of a RapidLED heatsink , pre drilled for different COBs

You can print it out for template, uses #3 holes for vero, or #6 holes for leidil bracket,

Click to expand...

Oooohhhhhh I'm an idiot. Lol. I was thinking it was a pattern for 4 Vero's!

Airwalker16 said:

Oooohhhhhh I'm an idiot. Lol. I was thinking it was a pattern for 4 Vero's!

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Pot site, happens all the time. We just turn to jelly brains You had me looking at it too>

Thanks guys! Those RapidLed heatsink might just do the trick! I was reading some reviews though and saw that they don't mount to the rails, what do you guys do to mount those together?

Look at schematic, pic#2, #8 mounting holes for rails on sides, or #5 holes/drill new holes in bottom for under rails, plenty of room.
Or 2 right angle rails 137 mm apart to sit heatsinks on top and slide.
Or drill 4 inch holes in boards, drop the sink in it, mount it to your fireplace mantle and exhaust out the chimney

Northmam said:

Thanks guys! Those RapidLed heatsink might just do the trick! I was reading some reviews though and saw that they don't mount to the rails, what do you guys do to mount those together?

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I use them on my arrays. Very nice quality and a reasonable price.
If you look at the side view of the sink, you'll see a pair of holes that are threaded. That's how I attached the sinks to the framework,