Is it necessary to hold down or “dog” Precision Board Plus to the vacuum table or oven support fixture during heating & cooling?
Yes. Due to the internal stresses that are occurring in the tool during the heating and cooling part of the cure cycle it is important to hold the Precision Board Plus tool flat. However, due to the differential of expansion and contraction between the Precision Board Plus lay up tool and the support structure it is crucial that they be allowed to move independent of each other. It is always a good idea to securely, not excessively, hold PBLT and PBHT tooling to the machining table to support the piece during ramp up and ramp down. Dogs, or equivalent, every 2′ +/- is adequate. Remember not to over tighten which will restrict horizontal expansion and contraction and possibly damage tool and composite laminate.
