Mould Distorsion! Why?


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Legoman
Legoman
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Hi boys!

My oven doesn't work jet and I put my new mould outside of the workshop. 4 pieces split-mould dissasembled and been put separately in the sunlight. Gelcoat side face to the sky. Surface reached 50-55 degree Celsius for a couple hours. When I was putting the parts together just noticed that the front panel is not fitting perfectly. Cause of the distorsion of the side panels. Can I solve this somehow? Let's say with controlled post cureing (with assembled mould)?
With some force I can push back the sides in position so still can use the mould. Just annoying...
Vinyl gelcoat, 2x100gm2 CSM coupling coat, 4x450gm2 CSM with tooling resin.
Pictures attached. Distorsion is about 10-12mm.
Any idea why this happend?

KLComposites
KLComposites
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Definitely heated too quickly. 1 degree Celsius per minute ramp up tops. Also, when we post cure multi piece molds free standing we fasten all the parts together to do so. Much less opportunity for warping. We do everything we can to hold the parts in place in the oven, even when doing “free standing” cures.
Hanaldo
Hanaldo
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Yeh the sun is a really uncontrolled method of heating, and composites require really precise control. Not only is the ramp rate way too fast as KL mentioned, but there's also a good chance you got uneven areas of heat where some parts of the mould may have cast a shadow on themselves. If this happens, you have some parts of your mould getting up to 50°, and other parts still sitting at 20° or whatever. This is a disaster and will easily warp parts.

There is a good chance you can restore the mould however, but you will likely need your oven running well. If you bolt the parts together in proper position and then cure them above your previous temperature (I would do 70-80°), they will likely hold that position and fit back together well again.
Legoman
Legoman
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Thx guys!

This informations help a lot! 
I tightened the parts together and put the mould in the oven (included the pattern inside which was supported on the critical areas). 40°C 2 hours, 50°C 4 hours, 60°C 4 hours (60°C is recommended but I started it at 40°C just in case, after this all I am very careful). After this couple hours the result is better already. I measured the distorsion again and has been reduced. Now is about 7-8mm. I will put it back for 10 more hours on 60°C and if necessary go up to 70-80°C as Hanaldo said.

Hanaldo
Hanaldo
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Just be careful with putting the pattern back in the mould to post cure, this can cause funny effects on the mould surface that can also ruin it. Once you have removed the pattern, you really need to do the post cure free standing.
GO

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