Pre-heating apparatus and method.

摘要

An apparatus for coating a work piece (20) includes a process chamber (12), a coating material supply apparatus located at least partially within the process chamber for delivering a coating material to the work piece, a pre-heater assembly adjoining the process chamber, and a support (18) for holding the work piece. The pre-heater assembly includes a housing (14) that opens to the process chamber, a susceptor (30) comprising a ceramic material positioned at least partially within the housing, and a pre-heater electron gun (24) configured to configured to direct an electron beam at the susceptor such that the susceptor radiates heat toward the work piece. The support (18) is movable to selectively move the work piece between a first position within the housing of the pre-heater assembly and a second position within the process chamber and outside the housing of the pre-heater assembly.