Segmented tools having thermal expansion abatement

A tool for forming composite parts, the tool comprising:

• a base comprising a first material;
• a tooling surface comprising a second material and having a first face configured to receive composite materials;
• a first heating system having one or more inductive heating elements coupled to the tooling surface;
• a second heating system coupled to the base;
• a controller configured to independently adjust a respective rate of temperature change of each of the first and second heating systems;
• and
• a plurality of spaced apart substructures coupling the tooling surface to the base;
• wherein each of the substructures has a floor fastened to the base and one or more walls extending from the floor to the tooling surface.

A method of manufacturing composite parts, the method comprising:

• preheating a tool having a base comprising a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a tooling surface comprising a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein preheating comprises:
• heating the tooling surface at a first rate using a first heating system;
• and
• heating the base at a second rate using a second heating system;
• wherein differences in dimensional growth due to thermal expansion of the base and the tooling surface are compensated by a plurality of spaced-apart box structures coupling the tooling surface to the base, each of the box structures comprising the second material and having a first end fastened to the base and a second end fastened to a back side of the tooling surface.