Rotary mount in a coating apparatus

1 . A rotary mount for mounting a part to be coated in a coating apparatus, the rotary mount comprising:

a spindle for rotating about a spindle axis;

a cam including a mounting portion for mounting the part thereto, and a cam profile opposite the mounting portion, the cam being:

pivotally coupled to the spindle, and

movable about a cam axis along a range of motion based on an interaction with a

a stationary follower member, the range of motion being non-linear relative to an

angle of rotation of the spindle around the spindle axis.

2 . The rotary mount of claim 1 , wherein the follower member is stationary, and wherein the follower member engages the cam profile via a sliding contact therewith.

3 . The rotary mount of claim 2 , wherein:

the spindle is configured to oscillate between first and second angles of rotation or to continuously rotate in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, for a more uniform exposure of the part to a coating beam; and

the cam profile is configured to tilt the cam about the cam axis proximate the first and second angles of rotation of the spindle to increase an angle of tilt of the part relative to the coating beam for a more uniform exposure of the part to the coating beam at edges of the part.

4 . The rotary mount of claim 1 , wherein the follower member is stationary, and wherein the follower member comprises a first magnet at an end facing the cam profile, the cam profile comprising a plurality of second magnets for magnetic engagement with the first magnet as the spindle rotates.

5 . The rotary mount of claim 1 , wherein the cam axis is parallel to the spindle axis.

6 . The rotary mount of claim 1 , wherein the cam axis is disposed between the mounting portion and the cam profile.

7 . The rotary mount of claim 1 , further comprising a rotary platform for rotating about a platform axis, wherein the spindle axis is mounted to the rotary platform.

8 . The rotary mount of claim 7 , wherein the platform axis is perpendicular to the spindle axis.

9 . A rotary mount for mounting a part to be coated in a coating system, the rotary mount comprising:

a spindle for rotating about a spindle axis;

a cam including a mounting portion for mounting the part thereto, and a cam profile opposite the mounting portion, the cam being:

pivotally coupled to the spindle, and

movable about a cam axis along a range of motion based on an interaction with a stationary follower member, the range of motion being non-linear relative to an angle of rotation of the spindle around the spindle axis;

a support for supporting the part, wherein the support is pivotally coupled to the spindle for tilting about a support axis spaced apart from the spindle axis; and

a motor for controllably tilting the support about the support axis.

10 . The rotary mount of claim 9 , wherein the support axis is parallel to the spindle axis.

11 . The rotary mount of claim 9 , wherein the motor comprises a stepper motor.

12 . The rotary mount of claim 9 , further comprising a controller that is configured to control the motor to tilt the support about the support axis based on an angle of rotation of the spindle about the spindle axis.

13 . The rotary mount of claim 12 , wherein:

the spindle oscillates between first and second angles of rotation or to continuously rotate in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, for a more uniform exposure of the part to a coating beam; and

the controller is configured to control the motor to tilt the support about the support axis proximate the first and second angles of rotation of the spindle, to increase an angle of tilt of the part relative to the coating beam for a more uniform exposure of the part to the coating beam at edges of the part.

14 . A coating apparatus for coating a part, the coating apparatus comprising:

a beam source for providing a coating beam;

a rotary mount downstream of the beam source for mounting the part for exposing the part to the coating beam, the rotary mount comprising:

a spindle for rotating about a spindle axis;

a cam including a mounting portion for mounting the part thereto, and a cam profile opposite the mounting portion, the cam being:

pivotally coupled to the spindle, and

movable about a cam axis along a range of motion, the range of motion being non-linear relative to an angle of rotation of the spindle around the spindle axis; and

a stationary follower member for engaging the cam profile for imparting a tilt of the cam about the cam axis depending on an angle of rotation of the spindle about the spindle axis.

15 . The coating apparatus of claim 14 , where the stationary follower member engages the cam profile via a sliding contact therewith.

16 . The coating apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:

the spindle oscillates between first and second angles of rotation or to continuously rotate in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, for a more uniform exposure of the part to the coating beam; and

the cam profile tilts the cam about the cam axis proximate the first and second angles of rotation of the spindle to increase an angle of tilt of the part relative to the coating beam for a more uniform exposure of the part to the coating beam at edges of the part.

17 . The coating apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the cam axis is parallel to the spindle axis.

18 . The coating apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a rotary platform for rotating about a platform axis, wherein the spindle axis is mounted to the rotary platform.

19 . The coating apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the follower member is stationary, and wherein the follower member comprises a first magnet at an end facing the cam profile, the cam profile comprising a plurality of second magnets for magnetic engagement with the first magnet as the spindle rotates.

20 . The coating apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a collimator for collimating the coating beam.