Tool for compacting a composite preform assembly and a method for the same

A tool arrangement for compacting a composite preform assembly comprising a support structure preform and an array of component preforms each extending from the support structure preform and spaced apart along the support structure preform, the tool arrangement comprising:

• a support tool defining a lay-up surface for laying up the support structure preform;
• a plurality of component moulds, each component mould comprising a pair of blocks configured to cooperate with one another to receive and compact a respective component preform extending from the support structure therebetween, each block having a compaction surface for engaging the component preform and a driving surface, wherein the component moulds are arranged along the support tool so that a plurality of wedge cavities are defined between non-parallel driving surfaces of adjacent component moulds;
• and
• a plurality of wedges configured to be received in the wedge cavities and to cooperate with the respective driving surfaces of the component moulds to drive the adjacent blocks to compact respective component preforms,
• wherein the support tool is a mandrel that extends circumferentially about an axis and is configured for laying up the support structure preform annularly about the axis and each component preform extends axially relative to the axis between a proximal end coupled to the support structure preform and a distal end, and
• wherein the component moulds are configured to be circumferentially spaced around the mandrel relative to the axis to compact each component preform at circumferentially spaced positions around the mandrel and each pair of blocks included in each of the plurality of component moulds are engaged at an axially distal end of the pair of blocks to encapsulate the distal ends of the respective component preform included in the array of component preforms.