thermal paste for hot end?

[dbarrans]

I'm almost done putting together my Rostock MAX, and I'm considering using some Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste to help with heat transfer between the heating resistors, the hot end, and the thermistor, and sealing it in with high temp RTV. I'll also be using PTFE tubing on the component leads to avoid the possibility of shorts. Has anyone tried this? How'd it work out?

I just want better thermal transfer than I expect to get with a few layers of aluminum foil with airspace between. What do you think?

- dan

[msdevstep]

I'd be afraid to use AS5 around the resistors because of a short circuit and higher current. Also, my understanding is that too much thermal paste can almost act as a thermal barrier, but that may only apply to it's usage on CPUs, or may be completely made up, I dunno, never tested it. I did however use a dab of thermal paste on the thermistor to hopefully improve the accuracy when reading the hot end temperature, can't really tell if it works or not as I don't have another way of measuring the hot end temperature.

I used a single strip of aluminum foil wrapped multiple times around my resistors, I used enough on each to ensure a tight fit and very little movement. I also used PTFE tubing on the resistors and the thermistor leads, which made me a lot more comfortable that nothing would short. Each of my resistors are held in place by RTV silicone.

[tom10122]

maybe between the tinfoil and hotend, not touching the resistor itself, I've learned that the ceramic cracks around the resistor and the tinfoil ends up holding it together. The thermal paste might seep through those cracks