Sintering press for a high-voltage power module, a sintering material printer for a high-voltage power module, and a sintering process for a high-voltage power module

Abstract

The invention relates to a sintering press for a high-voltage power module, comprising at least the following components: - a first tool for mounting a high-voltage power module; and - a second tool for holding a heat sink for a high-voltage power module, wherein the second tool has a first pressing surface and the first tool has a second pressing surface, where, for the sintering of an applied sintered material between a cooling sink held in the second tool and a high-voltage power module held in the first tool: - the first pressing surface with the incorporated high-voltage power module is in pressure-transmitting contact, and - the second pressing surface is in pressure-transmitting contact with the integrated heat sink. The sintering press is primarily characterized by the fact that the first pressing surface has at least one recess for at least one contact element of the high-voltage power module. The sintering press proposed here for a high-voltage power module enables efficient and cost-saving manufacturing.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sintering press for a high-voltage power module, a sintering material printer for a high-voltage power module, and a sintering process for a high-voltage power module.

[0002] It is known from industrial practice and, for example, from DE 10 2023 113 658 B3, EP 3 944 312 A1, or DE 10 2008 005 748 A1, that high-voltage power modules for pulse inverters in motor vehicles are provided with a sintered thermal paste to create a robust and reliable heat conductor to a heat sink. The sintering process requires a uniform force distribution on the high-voltage power module to achieve maximum contact area. This necessitates a large and flat pressing surface and the avoidance of any protrusions on the high-voltage power module, or their creation in a subsequent manufacturing step. This leads to additional manufacturing steps in the assembly process, an increase in process time, and the need for additional equipment in production.

[0003] Based on this, the present invention aims to overcome, at least partially, the disadvantages known from the prior art. The features of the invention are defined in the independent claims, for which advantageous embodiments are shown in the dependent claims. The features of the claims can be combined in any technically meaningful way, whereby the explanations in the following description and features from the figures, which comprise supplementary embodiments of the invention, can also be used.

[0004] The invention relates to a sintering press for a high-voltage power module, comprising at least the following components: - a first tool for mounting a high-voltage power module; and - a second tool for holding a heat sink for a high-voltage power module, wherein the second tool has a first pressing surface and the first tool has a second pressing surface, where, for the sintering of an applied sintered material between a cooling sink held in the second tool and a high-voltage power module held in the first tool: - the first pressing surface with the incorporated high-voltage power module is in pressure-transmitting contact, and - the second pressing surface is in pressure-transmitting contact with the incorporated cooling element.

[0005] The sintering press is characterized primarily by the fact that the first pressing surface has at least one recess for at least one contact element of the high-voltage power module.

[0006] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, ordinal numbers used in the preceding and following descriptions serve solely for unambiguous differentiation and do not indicate any order or ranking of the components referred to. An ordinal number greater than one does not necessarily imply the presence of another such component.

[0007] The sintering press for a high-voltage power module comprises a first tool, often positioned at the top in the Earth's gravitational field and therefore also referred to as the upper tool, and a (opposite, antagonistic) second tool, often accordingly referred to as the lower tool. It should be noted that the focus here is on the pressing process. Other means, such as temperature control and / or shielding from the external environment, are not discussed further here and are implemented as in a conventional sintering press.

[0008] The first tool is designed to hold a high-voltage power module, preferably in a way that protects the module from the effects of gravity (preferably in a first tool designed as an upper tool) and / or other disturbances. In one embodiment, the high-voltage power module can be suction-mounted. Alternatively or additionally, a held high-voltage power module is positioned precisely and securely, preferably easily inserted and automatically positioned via a suitable guide. In one embodiment, the high-voltage power module is held by the first tool via at least one contact element and preferably positioned precisely and securely.

[0009] The second tool is designed to hold a heat sink for a high-voltage power module, preferably ensuring that the high-voltage power module is resistant to the effects of gravity and / or other disturbances. In one embodiment, the high-voltage power module can be suction-mounted. Alternatively or additionally, a held high-voltage power module is positioned precisely and securely, preferably easily inserted and automatically positioned using a suitable guide. In one embodiment, the heat sink (on the rear side facing the contact point with the high-voltage power module) is equipped with a pin-fin geometry to improve heat conduction to a temperature control fluid during operation.

[0010] Suitable sintering materials for typical high-voltage power modules include silver paste, copper paste, and graphene-based paste. Copper paste is a more cost-effective alternative to silver paste, which also offers high electrical conductivity, but it is less corrosion-resistant than silver. Graphene is a material with exceptional thermal conductivity. Graphene-based pastes are often more expensive due to their complex manufacturing and processing. These pastes consist of particles of the element or chemical structure in a suspension, which are then hardened during sintering.

[0011] During the sintering of such a suspension, its particles are activated by a thermal process. By heating the suspension to a temperature below the melting point of the particles, the particles are mobilized and begin to touch and bond with one another. Furthermore, the increased diffusion rate of atoms on the particle surfaces leads to densification and solidification of the structure.

[0012] During sintering, the porosity of the suspension is reduced and / or the density of the material increases (under pressure). The particles begin to bond through diffusion and surface migration, thereby improving the mechanical strength and thermal conductivity of the material. The activation of the particles may also involve chemical reactions that lead to the formation of new phases and / or the transformation of existing phases, further enhancing the properties of the sintered material.

[0013] The sintering press enables the sintering of an applied sintering material (for example, one of the aforementioned materials or a similar suspension, or alternatively, a ceramic sintering material) between a heat sink (held in the second tool) and a high-voltage power module (held in the first tool). For this to occur, the first pressing surface of the second tool is in pressure-transmitting contact with the high-voltage power module, and the second pressing surface of the first tool is in pressure-transmitting contact with the heat sink. The two tools, with their antagonistic pressing surfaces, can be moved towards each other, thus allowing the sintering material to be compressed between the heat sink and the high-voltage power module. This means that the pressure of the sintering press is necessarily transmitted via the heat sink and the high-voltage power module.Because the high-voltage power module is a relatively sensitive component with delicate structures, it must be ensured that the force of the sintering press is distributed over the largest possible area and as evenly as possible.

[0014] It should be noted that the sintered material can usually be applied to a designated cooling surface of the high-voltage power module. In one embodiment, the cooling surface is formed by a metal sheet, for example, made of copper or a copper alloy. In another embodiment, the cooling surface is smaller than said metal sheet, preferably (technically approximate or by design) identical.

[0015] For example, a sintered material printer can be used to print a liquid or suspension sintered material onto the surface. Alternatively or additionally, sintered material can be applied to the opposite (counter-cooling) surface of the heat sink, for example, in the same and / or conventional manner.

[0016] It is now proposed that, contrary to the requirement to maintain the largest and most uniform pressing surface possible, the first pressing surface should at least have a recess for at least one contact element of the high-voltage power module.

[0017] High-voltage power modules are typically components manufactured on specialized production lines (often in a high-purity environment). Here, or during a subsequent intermediate manufacturing process, it is relatively straightforward to integrate at least one necessary contact element. However, these elements create the aforementioned protrusions, which hinder the goal of a large and uniform surface area for the application of the sintering press's force. A contact element is, for example, a contact tab for connecting to a power source, a power consumer, and / or another high-voltage power module connected in between. Alternatively or additionally, a contact element can be a press-fit pin, a plug-in pin, and / or a connecting element for a screw connection. In one embodiment, such a contact element is welded to the rest of the high-voltage power module, for example, using ultrasonic welding.

[0018] It is proposed here that a corresponding recess be provided in the pressing surface of the first tool (which holds the high-voltage power module) for such a contact element or a plurality of contact elements. This allows all or at least some of the necessary contact elements to be provided prior to pressing the sintered material using the sintering press. It was surprisingly found that, firstly, a sufficient reduction in the surface load can still be achieved on the (contact) surface of the high-voltage power module. Secondly, the force distribution on the opposite cooling surface of the high-voltage power module is such that the sintered material can be pressed with a satisfactory result, i.e., sufficiently uniformly across the entire surface.The result is therefore not that the recesses are represented in the sintered material, but rather (for example, as conventionally with the subsequent attachment of at least one contact element) a sufficiently large expansion of the thermally conductive connection across the sintered material. On the contrary, compared to sintering a sintered material between the heat sink and a high-voltage power module without contact elements to a high-voltage power module with (as proposed here, at least one) contact element, no impairment (such as a reduced activation rate and / or a reduced usable cooling surface) is to be expected.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment of the sintering press, it is further proposed that a plurality of high-voltage power modules and associated heat sinks can be accommodated and their sintered material can be sintered simultaneously.

[0020] In one embodiment, a (first) toolbar is provided in which a plurality of first tools can be received or are firmly held, and a corresponding (second) toolbar is provided in which a plurality of second tools can be received or are firmly held. In one embodiment, the toolbars are flexible so that different numbers and / or different sizes of tools can be received as needed. In one embodiment, at least one of the tools (preferably all first tools and / or all second tools) is detachable from the respective toolbar.This allows for easy replacement (for example in case of wear and / or geometric changes) and / or the use of the respective tool as a tool carrier for receiving and positioning the high-voltage power module or the heat sink for upstream manufacturing steps, for example the application of sintered material, for example in a sintered material printer.

[0021] According to another aspect, a sintered material printer is proposed for a high-voltage power module, featuring a tool carrier for holding a high-voltage power module and a printing unit for applying sintered material to a cooling surface of a held high-voltage power module.

[0022] The sintered material printer is characterized primarily by the fact that the tool carrier has at least one recess for at least one contact element of the high-voltage power module.

[0023] The sintering material printer proposed here is preferably designed for the upstream step of applying sintering material to the cooling surface of a high-voltage power module for a sintering press according to an embodiment as described above. In one embodiment, the tool carrier is formed by a tool of the sintering press with a corresponding pressing surface, wherein the tool carrier can be used, or is used, as the first tool in the sintering press (for example, in a flexible tool strip).

[0024] Using a printing unit, which may be of a conventional design, the desired sintered material (e.g., liquid or suspension) is applied to the cooling surface of the high-voltage power module. For a rectangular high-voltage power module or its cooling surface, sintered material is applied with a corresponding rectangular area, for example, with a small distance to the edge of the cooling surface. In one embodiment, the printing unit can be used to create any desired surface shape, for example, with outlets, curves, and / or offsets.

[0025] It has previously been proposed that, contrary to the requirement for a sintering press to provide the largest possible and most uniform pressing surface for sintering the sintered material, the relevant (first) pressing surface should have at least one recess for at least one contact element of the high-voltage power module. Furthermore, it is proposed here that the at least one contact element be applied before printing with sintered material, preferably during the manufacturing of the high-voltage power module. For example, it could be applied by a supplier, although preferably the printing with sintered material is carried out in or shortly thereafter and / or locally during the assembly of the heat sink, particularly preferably in the production line when integrating the high-voltage power module into the high-performance structure (for example, an electrified drive system of a motor vehicle).

[0026] According to another aspect, a sintering process for a high-voltage power module is proposed, comprising the following steps in the order mentioned: a. Applying a sintered material to a cooling surface of a high-voltage power module; b. Drying of the sintered material; c. Picking up the high-voltage power module and the heat sink between a second tool and a first tool of a sintering press and placing the high-voltage power module with its cooling surface covered with sintered material onto a provided heat sink; d. in the sintering press, sintering of the sintered material under the control of pressure, temperature and time.

[0027] The sintering process is characterized primarily by the fact that, prior to step c., at least one contact element is arranged on the surface of the high-voltage power module opposite the cooling surface.

[0028] This document proposes a sintering process that can be carried out, for example, using a sintering press and / or a sintering material printer, as described above. Reference is made to the process characteristics and material information in the preceding description. However, it should be noted that the sintering process proposed here can also be carried out using other means and / or tools.

[0029] Before step c., at least one contact element is arranged on the surface of the high-voltage power module opposite the cooling surface. A contact element is preferably applied before printing with sintered material, and more preferably during the manufacturing of the high-voltage power module. Preferably, it is applied by a supplier. A contact element is, for example, a contact tab for connecting to a power source, a power consumer, and / or to another high-voltage power module connected in between. Alternatively or additionally, a contact element is a press-fit pin, a plug-in pin, and / or a connecting element for a screw connection. In one embodiment, such a contact element is welded to the rest of the high-voltage power module, for example, by ultrasonic welding.

[0030] In step a., a sintered material is applied to a cooling surface of a high-voltage power module. This application is carried out, for example, by printing using a printing unit, which may be of a conventional design. In one embodiment, the printing unit can be used to create any desired surface shape, for example, with outlets, curves, and / or protrusions. It is essential to ensure that the cooling surface of the high-voltage power module has the most uniform and complete coverage possible with sintered material to guarantee optimal heat conduction.

[0031] In step b. (which may be entirely optional), the sintered material is dried, preferably in an oven. Drying the sintered material is an advantageous step that ensures the material's adhesion and mechanical strength. During drying, moisture is removed from the sintered material, leading to densification and hardening of the structure. Preferably, drying takes place under controlled conditions to achieve uniform and complete drying of the material. In one embodiment, drying is carried out in an oven with constant temperature and air circulation to ensure optimal drying. The dried sintered material is then ready (preferably without further intermediate steps) for the subsequent steps of the sintering process, in which it is applied to a cooling element and processed in the sintering press.

[0032] In step c., the high-voltage power module, with its sintered cooling surface, is placed onto a provided heat sink. The heat sink is preferably positioned to provide a stable and secure base for the high-voltage power module. In one embodiment, the heat sink is equipped with a pin-fin geometry to improve heat conduction to a temperature control fluid during operation. The high-voltage power module is placed on the heat sink with careful attention to the orientation and positioning of the contact elements to prevent damage and ensure an efficient connection.

[0033] In step c., the high-voltage power module and the heat sink are also positioned between a second tool and a first tool of a sintering press. In one embodiment, the tools are equipped with mechanical guides (for example, funnel-shaped chamfers) to ensure easy handling and precise relative positioning of the components to each other.

[0034] In one embodiment, in step c1, the high-voltage power module is first placed onto the heat sink, and only then, in step c2, is the associated tool attached. Alternatively, in step c1, the high-voltage power module is first picked up by the associated tool, and only then, in step c2, is it attached to the heat sink. In another embodiment, in step c3 (or step c1), the heat sink is first placed onto the high-voltage power module, and only then, in step c4, is the associated tool attached.

[0035] Alternatively, in step c3, the heat sink is first picked up by the associated tool and only then placed on the high-voltage power module in step c4 (or step c2).

[0036] In step d., the sintering material is sintered in the sintering press under controlled pressure, temperature, and time. The pressure is distributed evenly across the first and second pressing surfaces to ensure the desired bond quality for good thermal conductivity between the high-voltage power module and the heat sink. The temperature is preferably selected to activate the particles of the sintering material without damaging the high-voltage power module or the heat sink. The duration of the sintering process is determined to achieve the most complete and uniform sintering of the material possible. In one embodiment, the sintering process is optimized to maximize the thermal conductivity of the sintered material and preferably to ensure sufficient mechanical strength.

[0037] In an advantageous embodiment of the sintering process, it is further proposed that step a. is carried out using a sintering material printer according to an embodiment as described above; and / or step c. is carried out using a sintering press according to an embodiment as described above.

[0038] It should be noted that a different sequence or order of steps is possible (for example, using the previously described sintering press and / or sintering material printer), such as applying the sintering material to the heat sink in a corresponding step a.'. The cooling surface of the high-voltage power module is then only brought into contact with the sintering material in a corresponding step c.'. In this case, the corresponding (possibly optional) step b.' is then performed with the heat sink instead of the high-voltage power module. In one embodiment, sintering material is applied to both the cooling surface of the high-voltage power module and the corresponding (counter-cooling) surface of the heat sink.

[0039] The invention described above is explained in detail below against the relevant technical background with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show preferred embodiments. The invention is in no way limited by the purely schematic drawings, although it should be noted that the drawings are not to scale and are not suitable for defining size relationships. It is illustrated in Fig. 1: In a cutaway side view, a high-voltage power module connected to a heat sink and a control board; Fig. 2: in a schematic top view, three tool carriers and / or first tools; Fig. 3: A schematic side view of a sintered material printer; Fig. 4: A schematic side view of a sintering press; and Fig. 5: a flowchart of a sintering process.

[0040] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a cutaway side view of a high-voltage power module 2 in its assembled, operational state, connected to a heat sink 5 and a control board 17. It should be noted that not all visible components are always labeled with a reference numeral; some are labeled only once or twice as a representative element. The high-voltage power module 2 is the central element of the embodiment and is connected to a heat sink 5, which here is equipped with fin pins 18 and connected to a cooling channel 19, formed together with a cable housing 20, for a cooling fluid to dissipate heat. Sintered material 8 is applied between the high-voltage power module 2 and the heat sink 5 to ensure efficient heat conduction. The contact elements 10 are arranged on or protrude from the contact surface 15 of the high-voltage power module 2.On the left of the illustration, a contact element 10 designed as a tab is shown, which does not result in a protrusion in the contact surface 15 of the high-voltage power module 2. On the right of the illustration, another contact element 10 designed as a tab is shown, which is placed on the contact surface 15 and thus results in a protrusion in the contact surface 15 of the high-voltage power module 2. In both cases, it is purely optional whether these tabs result in a protrusion or not. Between these two ends, a plurality of contact elements 10 designed as press-fit pins can be seen. The control board 17 is electrically connected to the high-voltage power module 2 via these press-fit pins and is configured to control the function of the high-voltage power module 2. In this arrangement, these contact elements 10 must therefore form a protrusion from the contact surface 15.The surface 16 for counter-cooling by means of the heat sink 5 is thermally connected via the sintered material 8 to the cooling surface 14 of the high-voltage power module 2 opposite the contact elements 10.

[0041] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of a toolbar with three tool carriers 12 of a sintering material printer 11 and / or three (first) tools 3 of a sintering press 1. The number three is representative; more or fewer high-voltage power modules 2 can be processed simultaneously. Each tool carrier 12 or each tool 3 has recesses 9 designed to receive contact elements 10 (shown here with dashed lines). Here, the contact elements 10 shown with dashed lines refer (purely for illustrative purposes and without exclusion of generality) to the embodiment of a high-voltage power module 2 according to [reference to relevant figure]. Fig. 1. The tabs shown above have no protrusion, while the tabs shown below each have a protrusion. The round contact elements 10 represent, for example, press-fit pins, with their respective radial extensions representing their weld seams. The respective recesses 9 are formed as closely as possible to these contact elements 10 or their weld seams (or other connecting elements) at least in a first tool 3 of a sintering press 1, so that the (first) pressing surface 6 is as large as possible.

[0042] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of a sintering material printer 11, which is used for applying sintering material 8 to the cooling surface 14 of a high-voltage power module 2. The high-voltage power module 2 is mounted in the tool carrier 12 (as, for example, in Fig. (2 shown in top view) is held in a position, with the tool holder 12 optionally also being used as the (first) tool 3 in the sintering press 1. The first pressing surface 6 of the first tool 3 has recesses 9 which allow the contact elements 10 (shown here schematically as press-fit pins) to already be connected to the contact surface 15 of the high-voltage power module 2. The sintered material 8 is applied by a printing unit 13 of the sintering material printer 11 to the cooling surface 14 of the high-voltage power module 2 (for example, as a suspension). Optionally, the cooling surface 14 of the high-voltage power module 2 is formed here by a (separate) metal plate and / or a heat-conducting structure that is flat on the cooling surface side.

[0043] In Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic side view of a sintering press 1, which includes a high-voltage power module 2 and a heat sink 5. Sintered material 8 is provided between the high-voltage power module 2 and the heat sink 5, i.e., on the cooling surface 14 and on the corresponding (counter-cooling) surface 16, for example in advance (as in Fig. 3) has been printed onto the cooling surface 14 of the high-voltage power module 2. The sintering press 1 comprises a first tool 3 (shown here above, for example as the upper tool arranged at the top in the Earth's gravitational field) and a second tool 4 (shown here below, for example as the lower tool arranged at the bottom in the Earth's gravitational field). A high-voltage power module 2 can be accommodated in the first tool 3 and a heat sink 5 in the second tool 4. The first pressing surface 6 of the first tool 3 has recesses 9 (for example as in Fig. 2 shown), which allow the placement of a high-voltage power module 2 with contact elements 10 without affecting the sintering result. The second pressing surface 7 of the second tool 4 is in pressure-transmitting contact with the heat sink 5, here also with a corresponding form for protrusions of the heat sink 5 (for example, fin pins 18). The corresponding (counter-cooling) surface 16 of the heat sink 5 is thermally connected to the cooling surface 14 of the high-voltage power module 2.As soon as the two tools 3,4 (in the illustration, and preferably perpendicularly in the Earth's gravitational field) are brought towards each other, a force can be introduced onto the sintered material 8 between the cooling surface 14 of the high-voltage power module 2 and the corresponding surface 16 of the heat sink 5, with a sufficiently low surface pressure on the high-voltage power module 2 and at the same time sufficient surface pressure and sufficiently uniform force distribution for sintering the sintered material 8.

[0044] In Fig. Figure 5 shows a flowchart of a sintering process. In step a., a sintered material 8 is applied to a cooling surface 14 of a high-voltage power module 2. The application is carried out, for example, by printing using a printing unit 13, which is, for example, as shown schematically. Fig.Figure 3 shows the process as carried out. It is important to ensure that the cooling surface 14 of the high-voltage power module 2 has the most uniform and complete coverage possible with sintered material 8 to guarantee optimal heat conduction. In step b (which may be purely optional), the sintered material 8 is dried, preferably in an oven. Drying the sintered material 8 is an advantageous step to ensure the adhesion and mechanical strength of the material. During drying, moisture is removed from the sintered material 8, leading to densification and hardening of the structure. Preferably, drying is carried out under controlled conditions to achieve uniform and complete drying of the material. In one embodiment, drying is performed in an oven with constant temperature and air circulation to ensure optimal drying.The dried sintered material 8 is then (preferably without further intermediate steps) ready for the further steps of the sintering process, in which it is applied to a cooling body 5 and processed in the sintering press 1.

[0045] In step c., the high-voltage power module 2, with its cooling surface 14 coated with sintered material 8, is placed onto a provided heat sink 5. In one embodiment, the heat sink 5 is equipped with a pin-fin geometry to improve heat conduction to a temperature control fluid during operation. In step c., the high-voltage power module 2 and the heat sink 5 are also positioned between the first pressing surface 6 of the first tool 3 and the second pressing surface 7 of the second tool 4 of a sintering press 1. In one embodiment, the tools 3, 4 are equipped with mechanical guides (for example, funnel-shaped chamfers) to ensure easy handling and precise relative positioning of the components. In step d., the sintered material 8 is sintered in the sintering press 1 under controlled pressure, temperature, and time.The pressure is distributed evenly across the sintered material 8 by the first pressing surface 6 and the second pressing surface 7 to achieve the desired bond quality for good heat conduction between the high-voltage power module 2 and the heat sink 5. The temperature is sufficient to activate the particles of the sintered material 8 without damaging the high-voltage power module 2.

[0046] It should be noted that the sequence for a sintering press 1 and / or a sintering material printer 11 according to an embodiment as described above is not mandatory, and conversely, these devices are not mandatory for carrying out the sintering process.

[0047] The sintering press proposed here for a high-voltage power module enables efficient and cost-saving manufacturing. Reference symbol list 1 sintering press 2 high-voltage power modules 3 first tool 4 second tool 5 heat sinks 6 first pressing surface 7 second pressing surface 8 Sintered material 9 recess 10 contact elements 11 sintered material printers 12 tool carriers 13 printing units 14 cooling surface 15 contact area 16 Counter-cooling surface 17 Control board 18 Fin-Pins 19 Temperature control channel 20 cable housings

Claims

[1] Sintering press (1) for a high-voltage power module (2), comprising at least the following components: - a first tool (3) for receiving a high-voltage power module (2); and - a second tool (4) for receiving a heat sink (5) for a high-voltage power module (2), wherein the second tool (4) has a first pressing surface (6) and the first tool (3) has a second pressing surface (7), wherein for sintering an applied sintered material (8) between a heat sink (5) received in the second tool (4) and a high-voltage power module (2) received in the first tool (3): - the first pressing surface (6) is in pressure-transmitting contact with the incorporated high-voltage power module (2), and - the second pressing surface (7) is in pressure-transmitting contact with the incorporated cooling element (5), characterized by, that the first pressing surface (6) has at least one recess (9) for at least one contact element (10) of the high-voltage power module (2). [2] Sinter press (1) according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of high-voltage power modules (2) and associated heat sinks (5) can be accommodated and their sinter material (8) can be sintered simultaneously. [3] Sintering material printer (11) for a high-voltage power module (2), comprising a tool carrier (12) for receiving a high-voltage power module (2) and a printing unit (13) for applying sintering material (8) to a cooling surface (14) of a received high-voltage power module (2), characterized by that the tool carrier (12) has at least one recess (9) for at least one contact element (10) of the high-voltage power module (2). [4] Sintering process for a high-voltage power module (2) comprising the following steps in the order mentioned: a. Applying a sintered material (8) to a cooling surface (14) of a high-voltage power module (2); b. Drying of the sintered material (8); c. Picking up the high-voltage power module (2) and the heat sink (5) between a second tool (4) and a first tool (3) of a sintering press (1) and placing the high-voltage power module (2) with its cooling surface (14) provided with sintered material (8) onto a provided heat sink (5); d. in the sintering press (1), sintering of the sintering material (8) under the control of pressure, temperature and time, characterized by , that before step c. at least one contact element (10) is arranged on the surface (15) of the high-voltage power module (2) opposite the cooling surface (14). [5] Sintering process according to claim 4, wherein step a. is carried out using a sintering material printer (11) according to claim 3; and / or step c. is carried out using a sintering press (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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