Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for developing a metallic carbide coating on a substrate. The invention involves providing an enclosed chamber with sources of carbon in the form of a blank and an ingot of a metal material taken from the group including titanium, boron and silicon. Electron beam guns are employed to heat the carbon source causing a carbon vapor flow within the vessel. In accordance with this invention, the metal ingot is subjected to two distinct heating steps. A first heating step preferably using an electron beam gun, melts the ingot and the molten material flows onto a refractory surface where it is subjected to a second heating step, preferably also using an electron beam gun. The plural heating approach of this invention has been found to produce significant increases in metal vaporization rate, thus permitting a higher rate of formation of metallic carbide to be provided on the substrate.