Permanent tooling for composite coil spring compression molding

Tooling for use in forming a variable taper component, the tooling comprising:

• an inner mandrel comprising:
• a plurality of interlocking pieces, each interlocking piece defining:
• opposed tapered edge faces, one of the opposed tapered edge faces defining at least one locking feature and another of the opposed tapered edge faces defining at least one receiving feature to engage the at least one locking feature of an adjacent interlocking piece;
• a first surface defining a variable taper and a plurality of recesses configured to receive at least a portion of the variable taper component;
• and
• a tapered second surface opposite the first surface;
• and
• a brace securing the plurality of interlocking pieces to each other in a concentric arrangement about a central axis;
• and
• an outer mandrel disposed around the inner mandrel, the outer mandrel defining a corresponding plurality of recesses configured to receive at least a portion of the variable taper component,
• wherein a maximum width of each of the interlocking pieces is smaller than a minimum width of end portions of the variable taper component, and a central portion of the variable taper component is wider than the end portions.