Tools for manufacturing composite parts and methods for using such tools

A method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin part, the method comprising:

• positioning a plurality of fibers on a mold surface of a female tool, the mold surface including a first side region, a second side region, an interior region between the first and second side regions, and transition regions between the first and second side regions and the interior region;
• inflating a first expandable member to a first pressure to axially move a first pressing device of a compaction tool toward the mold surface such that the first pressing device compacts a first portion of the fibers against the transition regions, the compaction tool further including a second pressing device carrying the first pressing device, the first pressing device being axially movable relative to and independent of the second pressing device;
• reducing a pressure in the first expandable member from a first pressure to a second pressure less than the first pressure;
• and
• inflating one or more second expandable members to a third pressure to move the second pressing device toward the mold surface after reducing the pressure in the first expandable member to the second pressure, the second pressing device compacting a second portion of the fibers against the first and second side regions and corresponding shoulder regions outboard of the first and second side regions.