This class is only being offered to students that have previously graduated from our Phase 2 course.

Designed for the repair technician, lead, or supervisor who wants to further his or her education pertaining to repairs of composite structures, this class presents more challenging damage assessment and repair situations than presented in our Phase 2 class, which will certainly test the skills of the student.

Experimentation with all aspects of composite structural repairs and processing will be encouraged. Repair tooling is fabricated by the students as an integral part of the course.

The course is primarily a hands-on composite structural repair workshop that addresses larger and more complex repair scenarios that require multi-step repair processes and repair tooling. The students will be subjected to realistic parts that have sustained damage to large areas or complex features that will require extensive evaluation and repair.

Instruction will include the fabrication of composite repair tools in order to re-create the geometry of damage contoured surfaces for restoring the critical aerodynamic surface of the part using a custom made caul plate. Other alternative approaches to tooling will be discussed and/or employed during the class to broaden the technician’s overall possibilities.

Repairs to composite edge-bands with fasteners/hole locations will also be addressed in this class. Methods for removal and replacement of fasteners and/or potted details in composite structures will be discussed including using the appropriate tools and techniques.

In addition, students will learn more about processing their repairs utilizing “hot-bonders” with heat blankets, heat lamps, and hot-air machines. The students will learn the capabilities as well as the limitations of the different process equipment available to them within the industry. On-going experimentation with thermocouple placement and different heat-source equipment will be encouraged so that a working knowledge of these systems can be attained.