Variable pin fin construction to facilitate compliant cold plates

An apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of layers adapted to couple to a load or heat source, wherein the plurality of layers are bonded in a stacked configuration and comprise:
• a first active region comprising first pin portions positioned in a first planar arrangement;
• a second active region comprising second pin portions positioned in a second planar arrangement, wherein the second planar arrangement is different from the first planar arrangement;
• and
• a conformable layer adjacent to one or more of the plurality of layers.

A method comprising:

• providing a plurality of layers comprising a plurality of respective pin portions, wherein the providing the plurality of layers comprises:
• configuring a first plurality of pin portions of a first layer, of the plurality of layers, according to a first configuration;
• and
• configuring a second plurality of pin portions of a second layer, of the plurality of layers, according to a second configuration;
• aligning the first plurality of pin portions adjacent to the second plurality of pin portions;
• stacking the plurality of layers according to the aligning, resulting in adjacent layers;
• and
• bonding the pin portions of the adjacent layers and a conformable layer to form a stack of bonded layers, wherein the first plurality of pin portions and the second plurality of pin portions form columns of pin fins.