THIS MACHINE TURNS METAL INTO PLASMA AND COATS ANYTHING IN IT
A vacuum chamber that turns metal into plasma and coats anything in it, atom by atom — the same process semiconductor fabs and optics labs use, machined at home.
ScienceWorkshop
- difficulty
- ●●●●●
- time
- several weekends
- license
- CC0-1.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE160 stars
●●●●● · several weekends · CC0-1.0 · 160 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
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COMPAREE VERDICT
Magnetron sputtering is the industrial process behind mirror coatings, semiconductor layers and optical films: a magnetically confined plasma bombards a metal target inside a vacuum chamber, knocking atoms loose one at a time, and those atoms deposit onto whatever substrate you place underneath. The Thought Emporium machined and assembled one at home — vacuum chamber, magnetron cathode, power supply — and released the STEP files under CC0. The footage is genuinely striking: purple plasma glowing inside the chamber, and a resin-printed model, a hornet and flowers coated in silver and gold. What the repository is not: a complete kit. There is no BOM, no schematic for the high-voltage section, no written assembly procedure. The 24-minute build video shows the build and explains the physics, but you are still on your own for sizing the vacuum pump, selecting magnets, sourcing chamber feedthroughs and wiring the HV supply safely. This is a project for someone who already works with vacuum systems or is prepared to spend weeks learning — high voltage at low pressure is unforgiving, and there is no hand-holding. If you have the machine-shop access and the patience to reverse-engineer the rest from CAD and video, the result is a real thin-film deposition system. If you expected step-by-step instructions, this will waste your time before you even buy parts.
IN THE REPO
GOOD TO KNOW
- —CC0 STEP files for the machined parts, gaskets and fittings are published, effectively public domain with no commercial restriction.
- —No bill of materials, no electronics schematic, no written assembly guide — this is CAD geometry only.
- —The 24-minute build video (over 600,000 views) shows the process but does not substitute for missing documentation.
- —You will source and size your own vacuum pump, high-voltage power supply, chamber feedthroughs and magnets.
- —This is parts files for someone who already knows how to build vacuum systems and work with high voltage; it is not a kit.
- —Commercial benchtop sputter coaters exist; the project itself gives no price comparison.
Parts to buy
8 itemsFrom our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Videos
Coat ANYTHING in METAL: Magnetron Sputtering Machine Build24:22
24-minute build overview with physics explanation: the frame, diffusion-pump baffle, sputter head, high-current feedthrough and rotary couplings, plus first coatings. It does not provide a parts list or schematic.
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Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Watch the full 24-minute build video (and Part 1 on how it works) to understand what you are committing to (This is not a follow-along tutorial; it shows the result but you will have to solve the gaps yourself)
- 2.Download the STEP files and open them in CAD software to inventory what needs machining vs printing (The repo is geometry only; count the parts and decide if you have access to the tools or budget for machine-shop time)
- 3.Research vacuum pump sizing for your chamber volume and target pressure (typically 1–10 mTorr for sputtering)(The video does not specify pump model or CFM; you will calculate this or ask on vacuum forums)
- 4.Plan the high-voltage supply, grounding and interlocks before anything else: the creator used microwave oven transformers, which are lethal if mishandled(This is the single most dangerous component; if you do not already know how to wire HV safely, stop here)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- No BOM or electronics schematic means you are reverse-engineering the parts list from STEP files and two videos - budget extra weeks for this.
- Vacuum pump sizing is not specified; an undersized pump will never reach sputtering pressure, and an oversized one wastes money.
- High-voltage wiring inside a grounded metal chamber is a shock hazard; improper feedthrough insulation or missing interlocks can kill.
- The magnetron magnet arrangement is critical — weak or misaligned magnets will not confine the plasma, and the video does not give magnet grades or geometry in detail.
- Argon gas flow rate and pressure tuning is trial-and-error; expect to waste gas and time dialing in stable plasma.
- Chamber leaks are inevitable on a first build; you will need a leak detector or days of iterative tightening and re-pumping.
Is this actually the same process as commercial sputtering systems?
Yes — magnetron sputtering with a DC plasma is the standard method for depositing thin metal films in research and production. The physics is identical; the difference is precision and automation.
Can I use this to coat mirrors or make semiconductor samples?
You can deposit metal films - the creator coated a resin-printed model and a hornet in silver and flowers in gold, with swappable target discs. Mirror-quality or research-grade coatings take cleanliness, uniformity and tuning.
What if I don't have a metal lathe?
The chamber body and magnetron cathode require precision machining. You will need to pay for machine-shop time or find a makerspace with a lathe and mill; 3D printing alone is not enough.
How much does a comparable commercial system cost?
The project gives no comparison. Commercial benchtop sputter coaters exist, but check current quotes yourself; this build replicates the core function, not the automation or uniformity.
Is the licence really unrestricted?
Yes — CC0 is a public-domain dedication with no commercial restrictions. You can machine, modify and sell units without attribution, though attribution is encouraged.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
There is no parts list and you are wiring high voltage inside a vacuum chamber, but the full CAD is public domain. Would you attempt it, or is the safety and reverse-engineering cost too high?
The Thought Emporium
The Thought Emporium is a Canadian DIY science channel known for home-lab projects that belong in research institutions: CRISPR gene editing, electron microscopy, and now magnetron sputtering. The goal is to prove that lab-grade science is accessible outside universities if you are willing to machine parts and learn the physics.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM1mo agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the repository contains STEP CAD files for the chamber, magnetron, gun, gaskets and feedthroughs, a set of diagrams in the README, and links to the videos — but no written BOM, no electronics schematic and no step-by-step assembly guide. Several of the hardware STEP files carry McMaster-Carr part numbers in their names, which helps with sourcing fasteners and fittings. The main build video, about 24 minutes and over 600,000 views, was published in November 2021 alongside the repo and explains the physics clearly, but it still leaves you to size the vacuum pump, select magnets, source high-voltage components and plan your own wiring. The repo has not changed since November 2021, so this is a finished release rather than an evolving project. If you are comfortable working from CAD and have real high-voltage and vacuum experience, the CC0 licence is genuinely unrestricted. If you expected a kit or step-by-step instructions, this will frustrate you. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.