Mold with integral driver blocks

A method for fabricating a component using a composite material, the method comprising:

• laying-up mandrels and skins in a mold base and a mold lid, wherein the mold base comprises a first mold base side surface, a second mold base side surface and a depression into the mold base formed laterally between the first mold base side surface and the second mold base side surface;
• assembling a mold by assembling the mandrels into the mold base and installing the mold lid onto the mold base, the assembled mold including at least one driver block that is integral with the mold lid such that the at least one driver block and the mold lid are configured as a single unitary body, wherein the at least one driver block projects vertically away from an interior surface of the mold lid, wherein the at least one driver block has a width that decreases as the at least one driver block projects from the interior surface of the mold lid towards a distal end of the at least one driver block, wherein a portion of a first of the mandrels is seated in the depression such that the portion of the first of the mandrels is laterally abutted against the first mold base side surface, wherein the at least one driver block projects vertically into the depression such that the at least one driver block is laterally between and laterally contacts the portion of the first of the mandrels and the second mold base side surface;
• closing the mold and placing the mold into a press;
• drawing a vacuum and injecting resin;
• curing the component at a curing temperature;
• removing the mold from the press;
• and
• removing the lid, with the at least one integral driver block, from the mold base, thereby automatically extracting the at least one driver block from the mold base.