Kirsch Mackey

Kirsch Mackey is an electrical engineer, educator, and content creator with over 15 years of experience spanning power systems, control systems, electrical systems, embedded programming, PCB design, power electronics, and high-speed digital systems. As founder of HaSofu and former adjunct professor, he developed the MESH method—a structured approach to high-speed PCB design that has helped students land roles at companies like Apple, Intel, Cisco, Garmin and Amazon in months rather than years. Drawing from industry experience at Intel and beyond, Kirsch bridges theory and practice through technical writing, courses, and hands-on workshops that make complex engineering concepts accessible and actionable.

about 15 hours ago
What is Thermal Design in HDI? Managing Heat in Ultra-Thin Dielectrics and Microvia-Dense Regions

Learn how to optimize thermal design in High Density Interconnect (HDI) PCBs. Explore microvia thermal fields, copper balancing, and heat spreading.

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11 days ago
The Physics of Resin Flow: Glass Weave Locking & Dielectric Behavior in HDI Laminations

Understand HDI PCB design by tackling resin flow, glass weave, and dielectric behavior. Prevent defects like voids, skew, and delamination in high-density stackups

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about 14 hours ago
Architecting HDI for Ultra-Fine-Pitch Chiplets, AI Accelerators, and Fan-Out Packaging on Boards

Learn how to route 0.355 mm BGA pitches and design high density interconnect (HDI) PCBs for AI accelerators. Explore stackups, sub-3-mil routing, stacked microvias, and thermal management techniques.

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about 16 hours ago
Return Path Integrity in HDI Designs: How Microvias Reshape High-Speed Current Flow

Learn how HDI PCBs and microvias reshape high-speed signal return paths. Discover critical stitching strategies for DDR5, PCIe Gen5/6, and USB4 to maintain signal integrity in dense BGAs.

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about 1 month ago
HDI Deconstructed

Explore HDI PCB design with our guide. Learn about microvia physics, materials, and reliability to optimize your high-density layouts. Download today.

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about 2 months ago
Why HDI Designs Fail in the Field: Advanced Root Causes Beyond Standard Microvia Cracking

Prevent HDI PCB failures with insights on resin starvation, copper pull-away, and CAF growth. Ensure long-term reliability using Cadence DFM solutions.

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about 2 months ago
Does HDI Improve Signal Integrity? The Real Electromagnetic Impact of Microvias

HDI promises better signal integrity, but does it deliver? Learn the real electromagnetic impact of microvias, via stubs, differential skew, and reference plane issues in high-speed PCB design.

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about 2 months ago
Electromagnetic Side Effects of HDI: Cavity Modes, Return-Path Fragmentation, and Plane Resonance Patterns

Explore electromagnetic challenges in HDI PCB design, like cavity modes and plane resonance, and learn how advanced EM tools help solve signal integrity and EMI issues. For PCB and hardware engineers.

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about 1 month ago
How Many Microvias Can You Safely Stack? A Deep Dive Into HDI Reliability Physics

Discover how stacking microvias impacts HDI density and reliability. Cadence explores thermal stress, CTE mismatch, and material choices to guide PCB engineers on safe stack heights for durable design

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3 months ago
Pre-Tapeout Confidence: In-Design Checks for Power Integrity in Allegro X

Analyze PCB Power Integrity with Allegro X: Check DC IR-Drop, Return Path Continuity, Isolation Spacing DRC. Avoid issues like ground necking, ensure certification, and pass testing on the first run.

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3 months ago
Layout the Hot Loop, Save the EMI: Practical Allegro X Constraints for SMPS

Minimize EMI in your SMPS PCB design by understanding the 'hot loop' in PCB layout. Learn the 3 essential rules and how to put them into Allegro X constraints to pass compliance the first time.

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3 months ago
Magnetics First: How Transformer Choices Make or Break Your Design

The transformer is the heart of every flyback design. Learn how primary inductance, turns ratio, and saturation current make or break your design's efficiency and size.

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3 months ago
A Flyback That Starts Clean: Modeling Startup & Burden in PSpice

Use PSpice transient simulation to learn flyback power supply startup. Learn to tune soft-start, control inrush current, and prevent output voltage overshoot before you build hardware.

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4 months ago
Thermal & EMI in Power Supply Design: The Physics Your Schematic Won't Show You

Addressing thermal and EMI issues early can prevent power supply design challenges. Learn practical guidelines, architecture strategies, and modern tools to design for compliance and avoid re-spins

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4 months ago
The Role of Control Loops in Stable Power Supplies

Discover how control loops impact power supply stability. Learn key concepts like loop gain, phase margin, and crossover frequency to design reliable power converters.

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4 months ago
Understanding Power Supply Topologies: From Buck to LLC Resonant

Master power supply topology selection. Compare Buck, Boost, Flyback, Forward, and LLC resonant converters using a practical framework. Simplify your design choices from low-power rails to high-effici

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3 months ago
Why Power Supply Architecture Matters in Modern Electronics

Learn why power supply architecture matters in electronics. Explore topologies, avoid common mistakes, and use practical frameworks to simplify your design with proven strategies.

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