3D Printing Hardening 3D printed plastic

[davidshewitt]

I have an EasyMount for an Eggtimer Apogee that I plan to put in the nose cone of a 4" MadCow Nike Smoke. It will be flown on a K1103X, and I'm worried about the strength of the 3D printed plastic when flying something this hot.

My plan is to lightly coat the whole mount in West System 105/205 epoxy. I'll have to be careful so that the mount can still slide into its backing. I've hardened 3D printed plastic nose cones on several SBR rockets I've built, but I flew them on gentler motors.

Anyone flown the EasyMount on hot motors? I appreciate any advice people have. Thanks!

 

[rharshberger]

Look up annealing 3D printed plastic parts. There is even a method for packing the part in salt and annealing it that way to maintain shape without distortion.

 

[Zyzzyva1000]

After building an SBR rocket I have started painting all my 3d printed nose cones and fin cans with a slow cure epoxy (I use z-poxy finishing resin). Honestly this seems to make a fairly big difference. Other options are change the material. Some PLA+ has annealing instructions. I also recently started printing with polycarbonate which came with oven annealing instructions. Honestly though I think coating the plastic with resin (inside and outside if possible seems to be enough.