Ion beam coating apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for coating parts by means of a plasma supported ion beam comprising:
- (a) a plasma source chamber provided with an anode and having rf means for exiting a plasma therein, a gas feed ring at one end and a neck portion at the other end thereof;
(b) a coating chamber mounted adjacent and contiguous with said plasma source chamber via said neck portion;
(c) a plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of electron supply filaments both arranged circumferentially about said source chamber, with adjacent magnets of said plurality of permanent magnets having opposed polarity, the relative positions of said anode, said electron supply filaments and said magnets being such that the permanent magnets will be capable of increasing the path lengths of electrons between said filaments and said anode;
(d) vacuum pump means operatively connected to both said chambers; and
(e) a vacuum interlock provided in said coating chamber so as to admit said parts to be coated into said coating chamber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coating apparatus and method for coating industrial cutting and turning tools of any desired shape and configuration and the like significantly to improve the tools'"'"' working properties. The coating is formed of cubic boron nitride, with a preferred thickness not exceeding ten microns. The coating apparatus includes an rf excited plasma source chamber having a gas feed ring for ionizing a gas admitted into the chamber via the ring. The preferred feed gas is a borazine and benzene vapor mixture. A coating chamber is mounted adjacent to and contiguous with the plasma source chamber via a neck portion. The coating chamber includes a vacuum interlock to permit the entry and removal of a tool transport. At least one vacuum pump is operatively connected to the chamber. Preferably, a plurality of permanent magnets and electron supply filaments are arranged circumferentially about the plasma source chamber. Preferably, the tool transport is rotatable during coating. Preferably, the apparatus is microprocessor controlled.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. Apparatus for coating parts by means of a plasma supported ion beam comprising:
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(a) a plasma source chamber provided with an anode and having rf means for exiting a plasma therein, a gas feed ring at one end and a neck portion at the other end thereof; (b) a coating chamber mounted adjacent and contiguous with said plasma source chamber via said neck portion; (c) a plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of electron supply filaments both arranged circumferentially about said source chamber, with adjacent magnets of said plurality of permanent magnets having opposed polarity, the relative positions of said anode, said electron supply filaments and said magnets being such that the permanent magnets will be capable of increasing the path lengths of electrons between said filaments and said anode; (d) vacuum pump means operatively connected to both said chambers; and (e) a vacuum interlock provided in said coating chamber so as to admit said parts to be coated into said coating chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification