The　microwave　curing　process　for　carbon　fiber　reinforced　resin-based　composites　has　attracted　significant　attention　owing　to　its　selective　heating　characteristics.　However,　one　of　the　primary　challenges　is　the　asynchronous　heating　caused　by　the　uneven　electric　field　distribution,　which　leads　to　high　residual　stress　levels.　This　study　develops　an　octagonal　microwave　heating　platform　to　improve　electromagnetic　field　uniformity　within　the　cavity.　Based　on　Maxwell＇s　electromagnetic　theory　and　numerical　simulations　using　COMSOL　Multiphysics,　the　influences　of　slot　antenna　operating　modes　and　mode　mixer　structural　dimensions　on　field　uniformity　were　systematically　investigated.　The　results　revealed　a　26　%　improvement　in　electric　field　homogeneity　when　employing　four-antennas　simultaneous　operation　compared　to　the　single-antenna　configuration.　Furthermore,　a　mode　mixer　was　introduced　to　optimize　the　electromagnetic　field　distribution　by　combining　finite　element　modeling　with　dynamic　mesh　technique　and　experiments　using　self-developed　microwave　curing　system.　The　optimal　geometric　parameters　for　the　mixer　were　achieved,　enabling　precise　thermal　management　with　maximum　temperature　differences　maintained　within　6°C　during　component　heating.　Finally,　an　integrated　sensing　system　combining　temperature-measuring　and　fiber　Bragg　grating　sensors　was　implemented　to　characterize　strain　evolution.　The　optimized　electric　field　uniformity　demonstrated　significant　reduction　in　residual　strain,　showing　a　16.16　%　decrease　along　the　0°　fiber　orientation　compared　to　conventional　configurations.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd