Patent ID: 8308916

Claim:
A method for simultaneously coating a plurality of workpieces comprising: (i) providing a fixture; (ii) loading and securing workpieces into a plurality of apertures of a plurality of panel members; (iii) positioning said fixture onto a rotatable drive system in a coating chamber having a source of coating material; and (iv) operating the drive system to cause the fixture to rotate and simultaneously coating by physical vapor deposition that portion of said workpieces that extends into the volume external of said apertures, wherein the fixture comprises a support structure comprising a circular base member, a circular top member opposite the circular base member, and a plurality of structural members joining said top member to said base member; wherein said panel members aligned in a vertical direction around the outer periphery of said support structure form a cylinder structure, said panel members secured on said circular top member and said circular base member; wherein said panel members include said apertures for holding workpieces to which a coating is to be applied, said apertures facing outwardly away from said support structure, and said apertures are configured for receiving a portion of said workpieces that does not require coating; wherein said panel members comprise a plurality of plate members, at least some of said plate members providing a barrier for segregating the internal volume of said plurality of apertures from the volume external to said apertures and for securing said workpieces in said apertures; and wherein said apertures positioned on said panel members are located so that said workpieces are aligned in a vertical direction and a portion of the workpieces that requires coating extends into the volume external to said apertures and a portion of the workpieces that does not require coating is maintained within the internal volume of said apertures so that there is essentially no direct communication between the internal volume of said apertures and the external volume of said apertures across said barrier.