Arc Source

The ultimate solution for smooth metal nitride coating deposition. The Gencoa Arc produces highly ionised arc plasma for dense and hard layers at high rates, without the rough surface usually associated with arc deposition.

Arc PVD is a widely used and convenient method to create hard, wear resistant and decorative coatings based upon metal nitrides. Arc PVD produces a high current arc, which vaporizes and ionizes large amounts of metal target material. As a result, a highly dense coating is achieved.

A common issue of the arc PVD method is the creation of metal droplets, causing a low-quality coating with large amounts of macro-particles. Gencoa's arc source design addresses this issue by magnetic arrangement optimization, decreasing the macro-particles and resulting in smooth, defect-free layers.

The Gencoa Arc source allows the fast movement of the arc and optimum splitting spreads the current over a much wider area, which reduces the energy at any one point and minimizes localized heating that cause macro-particles within the coating.

The source utilizes a standard type of fixed current power supply, and the high ionization levels ensure that very hard coatings are readily achieved. Gencoa's arc PVD solution overcomes the inherent low rates associated with the use of magnetic filtered arc PVD methods to remove macro-particles.

The dense and high-quality layers are also deposited at much higher rates than competing HiPIMS type of sputtered metal nitride deposition, with the low cost and simplicity of Gencoa's arc PVD solution further adding to the benefits offered over comparable methods.