Sputtering systems are created in various configurations, including magnetron sputtering, E-beam evaporation and PVD Thermal Evaporation. Sputtering places extremely thin layers of material onto a target surface. These layers can be measured by the nanometer, and are often so dense that they are almost as hard as diamonds. These layers are so small that you would need an electron microscope to see them.

Healthcare, semi-conductor production, computer components and special optics all make use of sputtering systems. The carbon-like coatings these systems produce protect the target material from heat, pressure and abrasion. In order to prevent a fault in the finished product, it is incredibly important that operators never touch the inside of a vacuum with their bare hands. Skin oils left in the chamber introduce contaminates that alter the hardness of the film.

In any sort of sputter coater system, the gas inside the chamber is heated up to temperatures that are like that of the sun. A state of matter called plasma is created that allows for the greatest freedom of motion in particles. The particles leave the plasma and condense onto the target material in the chamber.

A typical application of a sputter coater system is for optics. Coating optical lenses helps prevent scratching and other defects.

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