Method of moulding and mould tool

A method of manufacturing a moulded workpiece comprising:

• providing a mould tool having a temperature control system, the temperature control system comprising a plurality of temperature control apparatuses configured to selectively control the temperature of a plurality of tessellating individually temperature controlled mould tool zones on a mould surface;
• providing a mould layer assembly that is separable from the mould tool and that comprises:
• a first mould layer defining a first mould surface and a second mould layer defining a second mould surface opposite the first mould surface to define a mould cavity therebetween;
• a series of fluid chambers opposite the first mould surface, which fluid chambers define the plurality of tessellating individually temperature controlled mould tool zones;
• and,
• a clamping mechanism that is configured to retain at least part of a pressure exerted on the first mould layer and the second mould layer;
• introducing material to be moulded into the mould cavity of the mould layer assembly;
• applying a moulding pressure to the mould layer assembly;
• using the temperature control system to undertake part of a moulding operation by selectively controlling the temperature of the plurality of tessellating individually temperature controlled mould tool zones on the first mould surface of the mould layer assembly;
• removing the mould layer assembly from the mould tool while retaining at least part of the moulding pressure between the first mould layer and the second mould layer with the clamping mechanism during transit of the mould layer assembly;
• and,
• removing the moulded workpiece from the mould layer assembly;
• wherein the method comprises one or more of a pre-heating stage and a post-cooling stage wherein:
• the pre-heating stage comprises the steps of pre-heating the mould layer assembly outside the mould tool before inserting the mould layer assembly into the mould tool;
• and,
• the post-cooling stage comprises the steps of removing the mould layer assembly from the mould tool and cooling the mould layer assembly outside the mould tool.