1. Reference Specs / Features (Baseline Expectations)

First, have or request the official spec sheet (or HS-Group’s SIGMET 2000V data). This gives you the “target envelope.” According to HS-Group’s website, the SIGMET 2000V has these published features / values:

• Chamber diameter: 2,000 mm
• Effective substrate holder height: 1,800 mm
• Substrate holders: 1 / 4 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 10 units (various configurations)
• Useable diameter per holder: e.g. 950 / 610 / 550 / 507 / 432 / 377 mm
• Drive speed (rotation / planetary): 1 … 10 U/min
• Number of evaporators: 25 evaporators
• Evaporator power: 20 kW per evaporator (or typical rating)
• Ultimate vacuum: < 2 × 10⁻⁶ mbar
• Double door arrangement (for loading / unloading productivity)
• “Glow pre-treatment” via AC, DC, or MF (40 Hz)
• Modular / flexible design, recipe management, process visualization, data management for process documentation
• Physical footprint: 8,200 × 7,100 × 3,250 mm (L × W × H) (as per published spec)
• Power consumption: ~ 78 kW (for full machine)

These values help you benchmark whether the machine you inspect is “full spec” or modified / stripped.

Also note the SIGMET series is intended for 24/7 batch operation, and is optimized for coating complex 3D molded parts (interiors, automotive trims, facades, etc.).

When you inspect, deviations from these specs (e.g. fewer evaporators, weaker vacuum, smaller chamber dimensions, missing door arrangement, degraded drive speed) may indicate the machine is a lower configuration or has had parts removed.

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2. Documentation & History Review

Before you touch the machine, demand and inspect all documentation. The more you can verify in writing, the lower your risk.

Essential Documents:

• Original factory build / configuration / wiring / vacuum / P&ID drawings for that unit (serial number)
• Process “recipe / parameter” archives (coating recipes, power / gas / timing settings)
• Service / maintenance logs: pump servicing, seal replacement, leak checks, evaporator replacement, calibration, chamber cleaning cycles
• Repair / modification history: whether parts were replaced (evaporators, drives, vacuum pumps), structural repairs, welding, chamber modifications
• Coating performance / quality records: sample coatings, thickness maps, adhesion tests
• Calibration / metrology reports: e.g. vacuum leak check logs, base pressure baselines, substrate alignment calibration
• Spare parts inventory: spare sources, mixing tubes, orifices, filaments, seals, O-rings
• Electrical / control diagrams, motion control software version, control parameter backups
• Pump / vacuum system logs (pump hours, maintenance)
• Substrate holder / fixture documentation, dimensions, tolerances

If the seller cannot provide credible logs and drawings, weigh heavily the risk.

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3. Visual / Structural / Cold Inspection

With the machine powered off, do a careful visual check of structure, seals, mechanical parts, vacuum integrity possibilities, and overall condition.

Chamber / Vacuum Vessel

• Inspect the vacuum chamber walls / shell for dents, weld repairs, cracks, signs of stress or fatigue.
• Check vacuum door flanges, sealing surfaces, door faces for damage, corrosion, pits. A poor seal area is a major leak risk.
• Inspect viewports (if any), flanges, ports, welded studs, feedthroughs for integrity and alignment.
• Look for surface corrosion (rust, pitting) inside chamber walls or around joints, especially in corners or hidden spots.
• Ensure all ports, pumps, foreline connections, and flanges are present and undamaged.

Doors, Door Mechanisms & Seals

• Examine the dual door system: door frames, hinges, latches, locking mechanisms, alignment, wear patterns.
• Inspect sealing surfaces (knife edges, O-ring / metal seals) for damage, wear, gouges, flattening.
• Check door actuators, drive mechanism, alignment, whether doors close squarely and evenly.

Substrate Holders / Fixtures / Planetary Drive

• Inspect the substrate holder structure: arms, carriers, fixture plates, vertical support, bearings, couplings, and pivot joints.
• Observe the planetary drive mechanisms: gear belts, gearboxes, drives, couplings, support bearings — check for looseness, corrosion, wear.
• Check whether substrate holders are supported only on one side (as claimed) and whether that support area is in good condition.
• Examine vertical rods / shafts / supports for straightness, corrosion, wear.

Evaporators / Coating Source Assemblies

• Inspect evaporator units (filament boats, sources, crucibles, magnetron heads, etc.) for signs of wear, deposit build-up, damage, cracks.
• Check mounting frames, alignment, resistant wiring or feedthroughs.
• Verify that evaporator power feed lines, cooling lines, wiring insulation are intact and undamaged.
• Inspect wiring / thermocouples / sensors in deposition zones for damage or drift.

Vacuum Pumps & High Vacuum System (External)

• Inspect foreline pumps, turbo pumps, cryo pumps or diffusion pumps (whichever is used): housing condition, oil stains, coupling, vibration mounts.
• Check piping from pumps to chamber: flanges, valves, vacuum lines for corrosion, leaks, poor welds.
• Inspect valve heads, gate / isolation valves, vacuum feedthroughs for condition.

Electrical / Control Cabinets, Wiring

• Open cabinets: inspect wiring, components, insulation condition, corrosion, loose connectors, signs of burning or moisture.
• Inspect control panels, displays, command consoles, cable management, cable carriers, interconnections.

Cooling / Process Gas / Plumbing

• Examine plumbing for gas lines (Ar, N₂, process gases), leak / purge piping, cooling water conduits, gas supply manifolds.
• Check for corrosion, leaks, welding repairs, improper pipe routing, nor damaged pipe supports.

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4. Static / Kinematic / Mechanical Checks (Manual or Jog Mode)

If allowed movement / motion in axis drives (e.g. planetary rotation, substrate indexing) under safe conditions, perform checks for smooth motion, backlash, alignment.

Substrate Holder / Drive Motion

• Jog or rotate substrate holders slowly (if possible) and feel for binding, stiction, irregular motion, dead spots.
• Reverse direction and check for backlash or overshoot.
• At several positions, stop and measure whether the rotational axis holds position (no creeping).
• Apply a light known torque (if safe) to substrate holder and see if the drive resists movement, indicating stiffness.

Door Operation / Door Drive

• Operate doors (open / close) manually or via drive: check smoothness, alignment, any mechanical binding or friction.
• Stop mid-stroke and see whether doors remain stable or sag / droop.

Vacuum Valve / Gate Mechanics

• Cycle isolation / gate valves manually or via drive (if safe): check for smooth valve travel, no sticking, proper sealing / seat action.

Evaporator Motion (if applicable)

• If evaporators or sources can be extended / retracted / raised (if part of machine design), test that motion smoothly, no binding or mechanical obstruction.

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5. Power-On / Dynamic / Operational Tests

With appropriate safety and vacuum precautions, power up subsystems gradually and test vacuum, drives, motion, and deposition readiness.

Vacuum / Pump Tests

• Power foreline pumps, vacuum pumps, start roughing pump and monitor pressure curves. Check speed of pumpdown, whether leaks or stalls occur.
• Monitor pressure vs time curves; compare to known spec pumpdown curves.
• Once rough vacuum is achieved, activate high vacuum pumps / turbomolecular / diffusion (if present) to reach intended operating vacuum (<2×10⁻⁶ mbar). Check ability to maintain vacuum.
• Look for pressure drifts: does chamber “leak up”? If so, the leak rate is high.
• Use a helium leak detector (if you bring one) for critical flanges / seals / welds / feedthroughs.

Drive & Substrate Motion Under Vacuum

• With vacuum established, enable substrate holder drive (planetary or rotation) and verify smooth motion, correct speed, stable control.
• Check for vibration, resonance, motor current stability, disturbances under motion.
• Reverse motion, check for backlash or drift under load.

Door / Valve Operation Under Vacuum

• Open / close doors or gate valves while evacuating (if safe / intended) and watch whether vacuum is maintained, whether seals re-seat properly.
• Monitor for vacuum disturbances or leaks during door cycles.

Evaporator / Deposition Source Activation (No Deposition Test)

• Power the evaporator(s) gradually (zero / low power) and monitor behavior: current draw, temperature rise, stability, vacuum perturbations.
• Watch for arcing, insulation issues, instabilities, deposition on unintended surfaces, gas / vapor contamination, outgassing.

Deposition / Coating Test (If Possible)

If it is safe and you have access to test substrate materials:

• Run a coating test (e.g. aluminum metallization) using a known recipe or test program.
• Deposit on test substrate(s) and evaluate the coating: thickness uniformity, adhesion, coverage quality (no pinholes, runs, blistering).
• Measure coating thickness across substrate and compare to intended values.
• Monitor process stability: stability of vacuum, source power stability, gas flow stability, substrate holder motion stability during deposition.
• Perform multiple layers (if system is designed for base + protective coat) to test full chain.

Repeatability / Batch Consistency Test

• Run several identical batches in sequence and measure coating uniformity / thickness across runs.
• Reset vacuum / vent / pump cycles and repeat test to see reproducibility.
• Monitor drift over time or under thermal load.

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6. Metrology, Coating Quality & Performance Verification

To validate that the machine meets quality standards, perform measurement and test analysis of coatings and motion precision.

• Thickness measurement (e.g. with a profilometer, ellipsometer, XRF, cross-section microscopy) at multiple locations to check uniformity, deviation.
• Adhesion / peel tests (tape test, scratch test) to ensure coating adherence.
• Surface morphology / microstructure inspection (SEM, optical microscope) to check defects, pinholes, nodules.
• Coverage / shadowing analysis (are complex 3D shapes fully coated, no shadow zones?).
• Edge coverage and edge bead thickness.
• Coating optical / reflectance measurement (if aesthetic reflective finish is required).
• Drift and stability: compare thickness / uniformity over multiple runs.
• Mechanical / dimensional stability: measure substrate holder axis drift, motion repeatability, rotational axis alignment deviation.
• Vacuum stability: measure base pressure drift, leak rates, outgassing behavior.

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7. Key Red Flags & Warning Signs

As you inspect and test, note these warning indicators. Presence of several is a serious red flag:

• Inability to reach or hold high vacuum (i.e. base pressure > 1×10⁻⁶ or significant leak rate).
• Slow pumpdown times, or pumps visibly distressed / noisy.
• Chamber leaks, poor door seal function (e.g. door flanges damaged, seal surfaces worn).
• Distorted chamber walls, weld repair patches near vacuum interfaces.
• Misaligned doors, sag, or door binding.
• Substrate holder drive instability, vibration, backlash, drift.
• Excessive wear, corrosion, pitting in holder arms, bearings, gearboxes.
• Evaporator sources heavily worn, cracked, misaligned, or wiring insulation damage.
• Arcing, insulation breakdown, unstable power in evaporator power supplies.
• Gas / plasma system issues (poor pre-treatment, erratic gas flows, leaks).
• Cooling line leaks, heating issues, thermal drift during deposition.
• Inconsistent coating thickness, poor uniformity, pinholes or delamination in test coatings.
• Poor reproducibility between batches.
• Missing or nonfunctional control / visualization or recipe management subsystems.
• Obsolete control components or hard-to-source spare parts.
• No maintenance or calibration records, incomplete history.

If you note multiple red flags, you must demand deep discounting or comprehensive refurbishment, or reconsider the purchase.

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8. Refurbishment / Risk Buffer & Cost Estimation

Even a “good” used SIGMET 2000V may need refurbishment. Budget items:

• Leak sealing, flange re-machining, door seal replacement
• Vacuum pump / turbo / diffusion pump overhaul or replacement
• Substrate holder drive / gearbox / bearing refurbishment
• Evaporator / source repairs, replacement of filaments, crucibles, magnetron heads
• Rewiring, insulation repair, power supply overhaul
• Control / software / visualization system update, backup restore
• Calibration, alignment, metrology, test cut cycles
• Replacement of gas / plumbing / valves / seals / feedthroughs
• Structural repairs, chamber refinishing, cleaning, internal polishing
• Installation, alignment, commissioning service
• Contingency buffer (10-20 % or more) for hidden damage / wear

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9. Contract / Acceptance Safeguards & Test Protocols

To protect your investment, include these items in your purchase / contract:

• On-site / acceptance test run: allow you to run vacuum + deposition cycles (with test substrates) after installation before final acceptance.
• Acceptance criteria / tolerance sheet: specify allowable vacuum levels, pumpdown times, coating thickness tolerance, uniformity, reproducibility thresholds, adhesion quality.
• Test substrates / sample parts: bring your own substrates (or standard coupons) to run a coating cycle and measure performance.
• Independent inspection clause: allow a vacuum / coating specialist to audit the machine’s condition and performance.
• Warranty / guarantee period: for critical parts (pump, chamber seal system, substrate drive, evaporators) post-installation.
• Holdback / retention clause: retain part of the payment until acceptance criteria are met.
• Disclosure clause: require the seller to disclose known wear, leaks, repairs, limitations, and servicing history.