An Overview of Composite Tooling Construction

Selecting and using the right tooling material plays an important role in manufacturing high-quality composite parts. It directly influences manufacturing outcomes such as cycle time, surface finish, and dimensional accuracy as well as cost/profitability. Tools composed of composite materials are a common option. This AIM event webinar will provide an overview of composite tooling construction, providing a practical look into how moulds and tools are designed, built, and maintained. Participants will explore key design considerations such as draft angles, parting and scribe lines, flange configurations, and reinforcement structures, along with material selection for plugs, resins, and surface coatings. The workflow of tooling construction, from initial plug preparation through layup, curing, demoulding, and finishing, will be presented to give participants a clear view of the complete end-to-end fabrication process.

In addition, the session will address practical aspects of tool maintenance, repair, and long-term storage. Best practices will be provided, supported by real-world examples from industry and research.

Presenter: Casey Keulen, Department of Materials Engineering, University of British Columbia