THIS MACHINE TURNS METAL INTO PLASMA AND COATS ANYTHING IN IT - LABS PAY 15,000 DOLLARS
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 ACTIVE155 stars
●●●●● · several weekends · CC0-1.0 · 155 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo
Partner
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, a dull metal sheet transforming into a mirror finish. What the repository is not: a complete kit. There is no BOM, no schematic for the high-voltage section, no written assembly procedure. The 30-minute YouTube 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 that would otherwise cost five figures. If you expected step-by-step instructions, this will waste your time before you even buy parts.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —CC0 STEP files for every machined and 3D-printed part 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 30-minute build video (633k 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 magnetron sputtering systems start around $14,985 (MTI VTC-16-D); lab-grade units exceed $50,000.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Partner · KickstarterHeyGears G1: 10M+ colors and transparent parts in one print, plus UV printing on flat objects. Figures, parts and labels — no painting.
Videos
I Built a Particle Accelerator at Home (Magnetron Sputtering)30:46
30-minute build walkthrough with physics explanation; shows machining, assembly and first plasma run but does not provide a parts list or schematic
Gallery
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 30-minute build video 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.Source a high-voltage DC power supply (500–1000V, current-limited) and plan your grounding and interlock strategy(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 entire parts list from STEP files and a 30-minute video — 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 (aluminum, copper, gold, etc.) on flat substrates like glass or silicon. Mirror-quality coatings require cleanliness and uniform deposition; research-grade results will take 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?
Benchtop magnetron sputtering systems start around $14,985 (MTI VTC-16-D) and lab-grade units exceed $50,000. This build replicates the core function but 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
Commercial magnetron sputtering systems start at $14,985, and this one replicates the core physics for under $2,000 if you already have machine-shop access — but there is no BOM and you are wiring high voltage inside a vacuum chamber. 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.
CompareeTEAM2d ago
Practical notes from our verification: the repository contains only STEP CAD files — no bill of materials, no electronics schematic, no written assembly guide. The 30-minute YouTube video (633k views, published November 2023) walks through the build and explains the physics clearly, but it still leaves you to size the vacuum pump, select magnets, source HV components and plan your own wiring. The repo README is two sentences; everything else is geometry and a video link. The last repo activity was November 2023, the same month the video dropped, so this is a finished release rather than an evolving project. If you are comfortable reverse-engineering a parts list from CAD and have real high-voltage and vacuum experience, the design is sound and the CC0 licence is genuinely unrestricted. If you expected a kit or step-by-step instructions, this will frustrate you before you spend a dollar.