Tool and method for manufacturing a tool, in particular for manufacturing fiber-reinforced components

A method for manufacturing a tool, comprising the steps of

• manufacturing a tool shell having a top side for shaping a fiber-reinforced component and having an underside;
• forming an integrally molded ribbed structure on the underside of the tool shell to make the tool shell dimensionally stable and so that the tool shell and the ribbed structure together form an element composed of a one-piece same material;
• making said tool shell with said integrally molded ribbed structure of a plurality of separate segments;
• and
• connecting said separate segments of said tool shell with said integrally molded ribbed structure, to one another in an air-tight manner, by extending screws through fastening edges of said segments and thereby providing a form-fit connection and making a weld seam between said segments on said top side and thereby providing a vacuum-tight connection.

A tool, comprising

• a tool shell having a top side for shaping a fiber-reinforced component, an underside comprising an integrally molded ribbed structure, a plurality of separate segments that are connected to one another and means for connecting said separate segments with one another including screws extending through fastening edges of said segments on said underside and providing a form-fit connection and a weld seam joining said segments on said top side and providing a vacuum-tight connection therebetween,
• wherein said tool shell is dimensionally stable,
• wherein said ribbed structure includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed as ribs selected from the group consisting of ribs which have same coefficients of thermal expansion as does said tool shell, ribs which are composed of essentially a same material as said tool shell and both, said integrally molded ribbed structure providing said dimensional stability, and
• wherein said tool shell and said ribbed structure together form an element composed of a one-piece same material.

A method for a manufacturing tool, comprising the steps of

• manufacturing a tool shell, having a top side for shaping a fiber-reinforced component and having an underside;
• forming an integrally molded ribbed structure on the underside of the tool shell to make the tool shell dimensionally stable;
• configuring the ribbed structure as a single piece with the tool shell, so that the tool shell and the ribbed structure together form an element composed of a one-piece same material;
• making said tool shell with said integrally molded ribbed structure of a plurality of separate segments;
• and
• connecting said separate segments of said shell with said integrally molded ribbed structure, to one another in an air-tight manner, by extending screws through fastening edges of said segments and thereby providing a form-fit connection and making a weld seam between said segments on said to side and thereby providing a vacuum-tight connection.