Can plasma cutter be used for sputtering?

[SupaVillain]

Main Question or Discussion Point

Hi there, I'd like to know if a small plasma cutter setup could be used for etching and sputtering... for example, finding a way to make a little plasma arc flow in air like a sputtering and etching beam. I doubt i can use an arc directly without burning up and destroying what im trying to work with

I'd like to make atomic force microscope probes cheaper and longer lasting just like shown in this video... http://ceramics.org/ceramic-tech-today/video-creating-ultrasharp-stm-afm-probes-for-superior-resolution-and-durability

 

[SupaVillain]

Seems as though this thermal plasma spraying might make it work, as it's used for chemical vapor deposition,

 

[Astronuc]

Hi there, I'd like to know if a small plasma cutter setup could be used for etching and sputtering... for example, finding a way to make a little plasma arc flow in air like a sputtering and etching beam. I doubt i can use an arc directly without burning up and destroying what im trying to work with

I'd like to make atomic force microscope probes cheaper and longer lasting just like shown in this video... http://ceramics.org/ceramic-tech-today/video-creating-ultrasharp-stm-afm-probes-for-superior-resolution-and-durability

Plasmas are used for etching and sputtering, although sputtering is often done with lasers, electron beams or ion beams, depending. I've seen examples of etching with Ar plasmas.

Plasma spraying is usually called physical vapor deposition (PVD) versus chemical vapor deposition in which the vapor chemically reacts (sometimes a type of decomposition) with the substrate.

Here is one example of the technology - http://books.google.com/books?id=k8fI2BH1KVEC&lpg=PP1&pg=PR5#v=onepage&q&f=false