Invar tooling

A tool for forming a part thereon, said tool comprising:

• a plurality of preformed Invar facesheets, each of said Invar facesheets being joined together to cooperatively define a tooling surface;
• said tooling surface being configured with a predetermined contour, said predetermined contour providing a desired contour to a part that is to be cast onto the tool;
• a support structure having a support surface for supporting said plurality of preformed Invar facesheets thereon;
• and
• said plurality of preformed Invar facesheets being fixedly secured to said support surface.

A tool for forming a part thereon, said tool comprising:

• at least one preformed, nickel-iron alloy facesheet for defining a tooling surface;
• said nickel-iron alloy facesheet having a rate of thermal expansion that is approximately only 10% that of carbon steel up to a temperature of approximately 400 degrees Fahrenheit;
• said tooling surface being configured with a predetermined contour, said predetermined contour providing a desired contour to a part that is to be cast onto the tool;
• a support structure having a support surface for supporting said preformed, nickel-iron alloy facesheet thereon;
• and
• said preformed, nickel-iron alloy facesheet being secured to said support surface to prevent movement of said preformed, nickel-iron alloy facesheet relative to said support surface.