VPT's state-of-the-art Coating Development Facility (CDL) has fully automated coating capabilities to demonstrate or develop coatings for its customer base. The lab includes multiple CITATION I (45") optical coaters that can be configured for different deposition methods and monitoring techniques. The coaters are capable of resistance or e-beam evaporation and sputtering deposition. Planetary rotation systems allow the coaters to be used for limited production runs and also to demonstrate the high level of film thickness uniformity that can be achieved. All processes may be completed with the option of ion-assist, supplied by an end-hall type ion source. Other ion sources may easily be installed for testing as required.

The CDL coaters have state-of-the-art film thickness monitoring including a quartz-crystal monitor, a witness optical monitor, and the capability to monitor though the center of each planetary. The coaters are fully automated with one-button coating using VPT's Designlink software.

Housed in a cleanroom environment, the CDL has an aqueous-based cleaning facility to prepare substrates prior to coating. The close proximity of substrate cleaning, coating and measurement facilities allow deposition of low defect films for critical applications such as laser damage and low scatter optics. The lab is also equipped with a research-grade UV-VIS-IR spectrophotometer, an optical profilometer and a Nomarski microscope. By utilizing the CDL's capabilities, all aspects of the coating process can be incorporated in customer training, including substrate preparation, coating design, coating process, automation, tooling design, and measurement methods.

VPT has extensive experience with coating applications for analytical equipment, aerospace, high energy lasers, large area coatings, and telecommunications. VPT's staff is also available to conduct on-site technical seminars at customer locations.