A microwave heating device includes a variable frequency microwave power supply, a waveguide launcher, and a fixture to contain a material to be heated, with the fixture located directly adjacent to the end of the launcher. All heating occurs in the near-field region. This condition may be insured by keeping the thickness of the fixture or workpiece under one wavelength (at all microwave frequencies being used). The launcher is preferably a horn or waveguide configured to apply the microwave power to a small area to perform spot curing or repair operations involving adhesives and composites. The spot curing may secure components in place for further handling, after which a thermal or oven treatment will cure the remaining adhesive to develop adequate strength for service.

A color based heating system is disclosed. A film for repair of aircraft components of fiber reinforced plastic has color changing properties that can include being temperature-dependent. The color changing properties can be reversible. A system for heating a repair site of a component of fiber reinforced plastic includes the film, a camera and a heating plate. The heating plate can have individually controllable heating zones. A controller can use local color signals of the camera for locally controlling local heating zones of the heating plate. The controller can assign local color signals of the camera to temperatures.

A color based heating system is disclosed. A film for repair of aircraft components of fiber reinforced plastic has color changing properties that can include being temperature-dependent. The color changing properties can be reversible. A system for heating a repair site of a component of fiber reinforced plastic includes the film, a camera and a heating plate. The heating plate can have individually controllable heating zones. A controller can use local color signals of the camera for locally controlling local heating zones of the heating plate. The controller can assign local color signals of the camera to temperatures.

Disclosed herein is a method of repairing surface damage in an exterior surface of a hollow bladder, made of a cured elastomer. The method comprises placing first strips, made of an uncured elastomer, at least partially within the surface damage in the exterior surface of the hollow bladder in a side-by-side arrangement. The method also comprises sealing the surface damage, the first strips, and a portion of the exterior surface surrounding the surface damage in a vacuum bag. The method further comprises reducing pressure within the vacuum bag relative to outside the vacuum bag. The method additionally comprises while the pressure within the vacuum bag is reduced, heating the first strips from within the vacuum bag to cure the first strips.

Disclosed herein is a method of repairing surface damage in an exterior surface of a hollow bladder, made of a cured elastomer. The method comprises placing first strips, made of an uncured elastomer, at least partially within the surface damage in the exterior surface of the hollow bladder in a side-by-side arrangement. The method also comprises sealing the surface damage, the first strips, and a portion of the exterior surface surrounding the surface damage in a vacuum bag. The method further comprises reducing pressure within the vacuum bag relative to outside the vacuum bag. The method additionally comprises while the pressure within the vacuum bag is reduced, heating the first strips from within the vacuum bag to cure the first strips.

A plastic welder comprising a control unit comprising a bulkhead assembly, a torch assembly comprising a torch hybrid connector, and a hybrid cable hose assembly comprising a hybrid cable hose including a threaded portion, a first overmolded portion, a second overmolded portion, wherein the torch assembly is removably attachable to the bulkhead assembly of the control unit by the hybrid cable hose assembly.

Systems and methods are provided for curing a composite part. The method includes the steps of: disposing a heat blanket at a composite material; applying, with a controller, power to heaters distributed across multiple cells of a heat blanket to heat the composite material at the heat blanket; monitoring, with the controller, a temperature of the composite material at each of the multiple cells via thermocouples distributed across the multiple cells; and individually adjusting, with the controller, an amount of power applied to the heaters, for each of the multiple cells, in response to the monitored temperature and a target temperature.

A hot stapler comprises a body, two heat conducting units, an electrical storage unit, a circuit unit, and a switch button. The body includes a head and a handle. The electrical storage unit is disposed in the handle and has a voltage value less than 6 volts. A first wire and a first resistor of the circuit unit are electrically mounted between one of the two heat conducting units and the electrical storage unit. A second wire and a second resistor of the circuit unit are electrically mounted between the other one of the two heat conducting units and the electrical storage unit. The switch button is disposed on the handle and is switchable between a power-on position and a power-off position.

A repair method for a workpiece of a plastics material is provided, wherein an induction heating apparatus is positioned at a repair region of the workpiece. The induction heating apparatus comprises a magnetic field generating device and a heat source. The heat source is arranged between the magnetic field generating device and the repair region. A repair material is positioned on the repair region and heated by way of the heat source. The heat source is inductively heated by the magnetic field generating device. A temperature (T) is measured by which an application of heat to the repair material by the heat source is characterized. The temperature (T) is controlled by means of a control device. The control of the temperature (T) by the control device occurs according to a temperature profile specification, which has a heating region and a working region following the heating region.

A repair method for a workpiece of a plastics material is provided, wherein an induction heating apparatus is positioned at a repair region of the workpiece. The induction heating apparatus comprises a magnetic field generating device and a heat source. The heat source is arranged between the magnetic field generating device and the repair region. A repair material is positioned on the repair region and heated by way of the heat source. The heat source is inductively heated by the magnetic field generating device. A temperature (T) is measured by which an application of heat to the repair material by the heat source is characterized. The temperature (T) is controlled by means of a control device. The control of the temperature (T) by the control device occurs according to a temperature profile specification, which has a heating region and a working region following the heating region.