Abstract: A method is provided for coating objects in a vacuum chamber in which a physical vapor deposition (PVD) can be carried out. The chamber has at least one anode means, at least one cathode and at least one magnetic field source. An arc can be ignited between the at least one anode means and the at least one cathode, and the cathode separates material. The at least one magnetic field can be turned relative to the at least one cathode and the objects to be coated are arranged in the chamber. The magnetic field is turned before the beginning of the coating process so that the separated material does not coat the objects to be coated in the coating process.

Abstract: Apparatus for evaporation of materials for coating of objects by a physical method (PVD) using low voltage electric arc, such apparatus being equipped with a source (4a, 4b, 4) of magnetic field and an anode (3) and a cathode (2a, 2b, 2) of electric arc. At least one cathode (2a, 2b, 2) and at least one source (4a, 4b, 4) of magnetic field can pivot in the coating chamber (1).

Abstract: A PVD method is proposed for coating substrates (10) in a vacuum chamber (20) with at least one anode (30), a cathode (40) and a magnetic field source (42). The cathode (40) can be controlled by the magnetic field source (42) in relation to the direction of the separated material. The method is based on the additional step of effectively turning the magnetic field source before the coating process so that the particles separated from the cathode (40) by the arc can impact on a chamber wall and thus cleaning processes can be carried out in the chamber and at the cathode. It is further proposed that the coating should be carried out successively in relation to the height by moving the magnetic field source (42) upwards and downwards, wherein the magnetic field source (42) is turned relative to the cathode (40) during the upward and downward movement and thus the deposition rate is varied in relation to the height.