Convertible magnetics for rotary cathode

A coating system comprising:

• a coating chamber;
• and
• a rotary cathode assembly disposed in the coating chamber, the rotary cathode assembly including:
• a cathode having a tube shape and defining a hollow center;
• a shield surrounding the cathode, the shield defining an access opening that exposes a portion of the cathode;
• and
• a rotary magnet subassembly disposed within the hollow center of the cathode, the rotary magnet subassembly includes a first magnetic component having a first magnetic field strength for magnetron sputtering and a second magnetic component having a second magnetic field strength for cathodic arc deposition such that the coating system operates in a magnetic sputtering mode or a cathodic arc deposition mode, the first magnetic field strength is greater than the second magnetic field strength, wherein the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component are rotatable between a first position in which the first magnetic component faces the access opening and the second magnetic component is shielded by the shield and a second position in which the second magnetic component faces the access opening and the first magnetic component is shielded by the shield;
• and
• a user operated controller configured for a user to select the magnetic sputtering mode or the cathodic arc deposition mode.