Brazed aluminum laminate mold tooling

A method for forming a laminate aluminum mold block for forming an article in a forming operation comprising:

• forming a series of aluminum laminate plates to collectively form a tool body for forming an article in a forming operation;
• forming a series of aluminum foil sheets for brazing together adjacent aluminum laminate plates;
• stacking the series of aluminum laminate plates alternating with the aluminum foil sheets between adjacent aluminum laminate plates without a flux;
• pressing the stacked series of alternating aluminum plates and aluminum foil sheets;
• and
• heating the stacked series of alternating aluminum plates and aluminum foil sheets in a vacuum furnace to a temperature wherein the aluminum foil sheets braze the aluminum laminate plates together.

A method for forming a laminate aluminum mold block for forming an article in a forming operation comprising:

• forming a series of aluminum laminate plates to collectively form a tool body for forming an article in a forming operation;
• forming a series of aluminum foil sheets for brazing together adjacent aluminum laminate plates;
• forming draining apertures through a plurality of the series of aluminum laminate plates;
• stacking the series of aluminum laminate plates alternating with the aluminum foil sheets between adjacent aluminum laminate plates;
• pressing the stacked series of alternating aluminum plates and aluminum foil sheets;
• and
• heating the stacked series of alternating aluminum plates and aluminum foil sheets to a temperature wherein the aluminum foil sheets braze the aluminum laminate plates together and excess braze material drains from the draining apertures.