A method of using a minimal surface or a minimal skeleton to make a heat exchanger component is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a stereolithography file from design data, slicing the stereolithography file into two-dimensional patterns, repeating the two-dimensional patterns sequentially to produce a three-dimensional minimal surface component or minimal skeleton component, and depositing at least one layer of a material having a high thermal conductivity onto a top surface of a base, wherein the deposited material forms either a three-dimensional minimal surface component or a three-dimensional minimal skeleton component. Also provided are the heat exchanger components made by the embodiments of the method using either minimal surfaces or minimal skeletons.