The pedestal serves a few critical functions; the primary being heat transfer from DUT to thermal control engine. Typically pedestals are made from oxygen free Cu, Ag or Al and are plated with a variety of materials including Ni, Si or Au. Mechanically the pedestal makes the physical, conduction connection between the DUT and the thermal control engine. For optimum thermal transfer, design & manufacturing must provide for super flatness & the correct base materials & plating for the application.In many cases, a change of pedestal is all that is required in order to change the utilization of a Thermal Head from one DUT and/or socket application to another.Pedestals can compensate for a change in DUT topography, size and thickness.