System including a portable heat gun for curing advanced composite workpieces

A system for curing advanced composites including a portable hand held heat gun comprising:

• a hollow housing having a generally pistol grip configuration and provided with an air intake port and an air discharge port;
• an air blower means positioned within said housing and adapted to draw air into the housing through the intake port and discharge air through the discharge port;
• controllable heater means positioned within the housing and adapted to cooperate with the air blower means to selectively heat the air stream discharged through the discharge port;
• means to position the discharge port a predetermined distance from an advanced composite to be cured;
• and,
• control means cooperating with the heater means and blower means when the discharge has been positioned a predetermined distance from an advanced composite to be cured to cause the heat gun system to direct a flow of heated air against the advanced composite at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time period and upon cessation of the time period to thereafter cause the heat gun system to direct an unheated flow of air against the advanced composite for a second period of time thereby causing a resin component of the advanced composite to flow within the composite in a prescribed manner and to cure to a desired hardness.