Cathodic arc deposition apparatus and method

A method for coating a workpiece, the method comprising:

• positioning the workpiece in a cathodic arc deposition vessel such that a surface of the workpiece to be coated faces at least one evaporative surface of the cathode;
• biasing the cathode with a positive potential;
• vaporizing a portion of the cathode evaporative surface by initiating an electrical arc between the cathode and an anode disposed in the vessel, the vaporized portion of the cathode forming a metallic plasma;
• directing the metallic plasma toward the workpiece by biasing the surface of the workpiece to be coated with a negative potential equal to or less than a negative potential of the anode;
• and
• operating a first magnetic field generator disposed in a first electrically conductive portion of a first stinger cup, thereby steering the electrical arc about the at least one evaporative surface of the cathode;
• selectively contacting a second portion of the electrically conductive stinger cup with the cathode, the first portion of the first stinger cup spaced from the second portion from by a thermally insulating layer therebetween, such that the thermally insulating layer is disposed directly between the first magnetic field generator and the cathode when the first stinger cup is in contact with the cathode.