The Bühler Leybold Optics CompactMet is an economic, compact and ultra-fast batch-type aluminum evaporation machine for vacuum coating of three-dimensional parts such as automotive plastic head light and tail light reflectors. The machine’s patent pending concept delivers clear advantages for flexible large-scale production. The substrates are loaded onto two easily accessible rotating pylons on each of the machine’s two doors, each pylon having a usable length of 1500 mm and a diameter of 540 mm. This double-door design minimizes delays between batches, as one door’s pylons can be loaded and unloaded while the others are being processed, a feature which helps to maximize productivity.
High reliability thanks to smart und robust design
The CompactMet is deployed in daily mass production in the automotive industry and has demonstrated unmatched reliability and productivity. Key components such as the vacuum pump set, evaporation system and the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) station are designed for a 24/7 machine operation. Maintenance requirements have been kept to a minimum by the consistent implementation of a robust and smart machine design. Furthermore, all serviceable parts are easily accessed and simple to maintain, thus ensuring a high machine uptime.
Efficient processing for high productivity and flexibility
Besides the intuitive and state-of-the-art human-machine interface (HMI), the machine concept itself offers considerable benefits for industrial mass production applications. The double-door “clam shell” configuration with two substrate holders per door facilitates highly efficient processing.