Cathodic arc ignition device

Use of an arc ignition device for cathodic arc deposition of a target material onto a substrate, the arc ignition device comprising:

• a trigger finger arranged moveable between a contacting position and a resting position, wherein in the contacting position a side surface of an adjacent target can be physically contacted by the trigger finger, and in the resting position the adjacent target cannot be contacted by the trigger finger, wherein during cathodic arc deposition of a target material, the trigger finger is arranged movable between the contacting position and the resting position in such a way that the contamination of the trigger finger with deposited target material during the cathodic arc deposition of the target material can be minimized in a pulsed cathodic arc deposition process;
• and
• an actuator for moving the trigger finger between the contacting position and the resting position, wherein the actuator is an electromagnetic actuator, wherein the electromagnetic actuator produces a mechanical movement after electrical stimulation of a coil, allowing moving the trigger finger between the contacting position and the resting position by the actuator in a time between 20 ms and 10 ms.