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Typical production flow
The route from in-coming inspection of the tools and precision
components to be coated up to the point where they are returned
to the customer is a specialised production process with many
individual steps that are matched to the required coating with its
special properties.
In-coming inspection
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The parts to be coated are checked for quantity, material and surface
condition. The production sequence is determined on the basis of
customer specifications. |
Cleaning
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Clean surfaces are essential for the coating adhesion. For this reason,
Oerlikon Balzers Coating invests a great deal of effort in surface preparation for PVD.
Cleaning takes place in a multi-stage ultrasonic cleaning line using
aqueous alkaline baths without environmentally damaging additives.
Cleaning is simplified by delivery in special baskets respectively by
automated loading of the cleaning line. |
Pre-treatment
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If additional pre-treatment is required, Oerlikon Balzers Coating uses the appropriate
technologies. Baking-out in a vacuum oven, for example, eliminates
material residues in narrow bore holes, microblasting removes porous
surface layers. |
Loading
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Before coating, the parts are loaded into interchangeable substrate
holders and then inserted into the coating system. In the case of large
production runs, the substrate holders are loaded automatically. A
defined arrangement of the parts ensures reproducible precision. |
Coating
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The coating is carried out with a sequence of automatically controlled
and documented processes. The following process sequence typifies the
special Oerlikon Balzers Coating coating technology: |
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pump down the process chamber to a residual pressure of about 10-6 mbar |
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systems and process check |
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heat the tools or components to the required temperature |
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ion etch the tools/components to produce atomically clean surfaces |
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coat using the PVD-/PACVD process |
| • |
cool |
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systems and safety check
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Balzers' coating know-how comes to the fore between the etching and
coating phases. Precisely controlled application of suitable
intermediate layers ensures optimum adhesion of the functional coating.
The coating can be applied using mono-layer or multi-layer processes and in
nano-structures. The plasma parameter settings determine the coating
properties, and the proven system technology guarantees the required
process reliability.
Outgoing inspection
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This includes the testing of properties such as hardness, coating
thickness and adhesion and visual inspection. In long coating runs, with an
agreed number of test parts a statistical process monitoring of
agreed parameters is carried out. The automated testing of mass
production components is always carried out where this is economically
possible. |
Post-treatment / conservation
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IIn many cases, Oerlikon Balzers Coating carries out a post-treatment if, for example,
the coated tools or components are to be demagnetised or conserved. |
Packaging / shipping
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The coated parts are usually returned in the packaging in which they
were delivered. Considerable savings are achievable if the parts are
delivered packed in suitable cleaning baskets. |
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