Hi,

I have made some parts via wet layup over a 3D printed core shape using EL2 laminating resin, then I sanded smooth and skinned in a cosmetic layer with your XCR resin.

I want to post cure them because I need to make sure it can take higher in service temperatures.

I'm not sure whether I need to support it during post cure, is it likely to distort ? And if so how much is to be expected ? I don't have a mould as I didn't make it from one, I wondered if I should make a half mould from the finished part for it to rest in during post cure, or some kind of frame to hold it.

The 3D core is stable at those temps, but the shape is spindly so I don't think that will provide much support.

All help and suggestions welcome !

ideally you would build a jig that locks the metal inserts in a certain position during post curing.

If you need to worry about it or not depends a lot on what kind of accuracy you need and how your tempering oven looks like. if you have an oven with ramp control and you can increase the temp very slowly, you can basically chase the glass transition temperature of the resin in a way that it will always be higher than the temp in the oven and distortion should not be an issue with a part like this.
If your setup is more simple then i would probably build a jig.

Nice looking parts!

That postcuring process is a little bit risky always, the ramp has to be very very slow, fixing jig is always better.
Like Lester said fix the bushings to the stable frame to be sure the final geometry will be ok, use slow ramp for longer time, remember the postcuring temperature has to be below the 3D core limit 5-10°C at least.

The jig is a very good idea and certainly should keep alignment.  Also as its not in a mould slow your post cure right down.  Increase the time spent at each temperature step and even slow the ramp rate if you can.  You are unlikely to have the part sag significantly on any decent post cure cycle but the surface finish could easily be ruined as the resin softens and sinks a bit into the fibre. If that happens its not the end of the world but it would mean more flatting and polishing to get a smooth finish.

On the enclosed TDS you will see a few post cure options.  I would look at cycle 2 and maybe extend the steps to 3 hours each and a bit longer still at 60.  At which point you can finish off with the steps for maximum HDT if needs be. 

Warren Penalver
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant