Floating tooling assembly for chemical vapor infiltration

A method of arranging a fibrous preform in a tooling assembly for chemical vapor infiltration (CVI), the method comprising:

• assembling an inner tooling fixture around the fibrous preform, wherein the inner tooling fixture comprises:
• a body defined by at least one portion, the body configured to at least partially surround the fibrous preform;
• a plurality of holes extending through a thickness of the at least one portion, each hole of the plurality of holes having a length (L) and a diameter (D);
• and
• first and second neck regions;
• inserting the first neck region of the inner tooling fixture into a recess in a first portion of an outer tooling fixture;
• inserting the second neck region of the inner tooling fixture into a recess in a second portion of the outer tooling fixture;
• and
• securing the first portion of the outer tooling fixture to the second portion of the outer tooling fixture wherein the outer tooling fixture comprises:
• the first portion;
• the second portion, wherein the first portion is removably attached to the second portion, each of the first portion and the second portion comprising a base with the recess;
• and
• a first pair of oppositely disposed windows each window providing an opening to the interior volume, a perimeter of the opening defined by the first portion, the second portion, or a combination thereof;
• wherein the outer tooling fixture defines an interior volume and wherein the inner tooling fixture is disposed entirely within the interior volume;
• and
• wherein the first pair of windows is open to and spaced apart from the inner tooling fixture and the plurality of holes of the inner tooling fixture such that a flow of vaporous precursors is permitted through the first pair of windows to openings of the plurality of holes of the inner tooling fixture.