Cathodic
arc is a vapor deposition technique where an electric arc is used
to vaporize material from an electrode. The vaporized material
settles on a surface, and forms a thin film.
PVD
machine
? PVD
coating machines are fitted with at least 4 arc cathodes, more
cathodes allow a shorter cycle time when applying the thin coating.
When the machine starts a high current, low voltage arc is created
on the item that will be coated. The metal from the cathodes is
evaporated and ionized, those ions are accelerated at high energy
into the vacuum through an inert gas deposited on the
item.
