Conductive coatings are an important part of physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes. If you’ve never bought any before, however, you may find yourself at a loss about the best kinds of products and the best kinds of deals. Here are just five ways to take some of the mysticism out of the topic and help you make a smart purchase decision.
1. Know Your Needs
Never go shopping without knowing exactly what you need. Are you looking for coatings for ceramics or circuitry? Are you covering diamond, glass, silicon, polymer or aluminum nitride? What about the exact measurements of your equipment? What are the lengths and widths of everything involved?
2. Give Yourself a Budget
One of the most important questions to ask yourself is how much you can afford to spend on sputtered coatings. Keep in mind that you’ll also be responsible for delivery costs, so the final price on the website isn’t the last one you’ll pay. You might also want to set some money aside for future upkeep costs.
3. Research Your Options
Resistor coatings aren’t dielectric coatings. The stress requirements of one machine aren’t the stress requirements of another. Before you commit yourself to any purchase whatsoever, make sure you’ve done your homework about everything that’s out there.
4. Look Into the Manufacturer
If they have any complaints about them with the Better Business Bureau, that’s an automatic no. If they have several negative reviews online, it’s a tentative “maybe” depending on what the customers are complaining about. If their issues with the company don’t sound like the kind of issues you usually have, things might turn out okay.
5. Get a Guarantee
What are your options if you aren’t fully satisfied with your purchase? Many companies will try to trip you with the fine print, so make sure you read it all and look for loopholes. Does the warranty cover accidents as well as defects? Will you be on the hook for return shipping charges if something needs to go back?
If you’re ready to boost your PVD processes, these are just a few tips for buying the sputtered coatings that you’ll need to get the job done. As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when making a purchase decision, so take your time. Don’t rush your choice. Find coatings that make you feel confident and ready for action.
