A tool used to direct the pressure applied to features of a plastic
laminate part layup during co-curing or co-bonding is manufactured using
direct digital manufacturing techniques. A CAD drawing representing the
tool is generated and converted into digital data file suitable for
controlling the operation of a rapid prototyping machine. The tool is
formed in the rapid prototyping machine by additive layering of material
until the features and dimensions of the layered material correspond to
the CAD drawing. The resulting tool exhibits geometries and dimensions
virtually identical to the theoretical dimensions of the CAD model of the
tool.