A forming tool apparatus for forming an article having a negative draft angle that locks the formed article within the forming tool, the forming tool apparatus comprising: a first forming tool and a second forming tool, the second forming tool being moveable relative to the first forming tool between a closed condition to define a forming tool cavity in which the article is formed from a sheet metal blank and an open condition for removal of the formed article from the forming tool cavity along an extraction direction, the first forming tool having a first forming surface for forming a first portion of the article that other than includes the negative draft angle, and the first forming surface having a recess defined therein; an insert disposed within the recess and having a second forming surface for forming a second portion of the article that includes the negative draft angle, the second forming surface having a perimeter that is dimensioned smaller than a perimeter of the recess, the insert being linearly moveable relative to the first forming tool along a drive direction and between a forming position in which the second forming surface cooperates with the first forming surface to form the article and an extraction position in which the second forming surface is spaced apart from the formed article; and a linear-drive mechanism in communication with the insert for moving the insert between the forming position and the extraction position; characterized by at least two pressure pad assemblies disposed between the insert and an interior surface of the recess, each one of the at least two pressure pad assemblies including a temperature compensating spacer element for biasing the insert along a direction that is normal to the drive direction, such that during operation of the forming tool within a predetermined temperature range a substantially gapless boundary is formed between the second forming surface and the first forming surface along a predetermined segment of the perimeter of the second forming surface, and such that a variable-sized gap is formed between the second forming surface and the first forming surface along other than the predetermined segment of the perimeter of the second forming surface. a first forming tool and a second forming tool, the second forming tool being moveable relative to the first forming tool between a closed condition to define a forming tool cavity in which the article is formed from a sheet metal blank and an open condition for removal of the formed article from the forming tool cavity along an extraction direction, the first forming tool having a first forming surface for forming a first portion of the article that other than includes the negative draft angle, and the first forming surface having a recess defined therein; an insert disposed within the recess and having a second forming surface for forming a second portion of the article that includes the negative draft angle, the second forming surface having a perimeter that is dimensioned smaller than a perimeter of the recess, the insert being linearly moveable relative to the first forming tool along a drive direction and between a forming position in which the second forming surface cooperates with the first forming surface to form the article and an extraction position in which the second forming surface is spaced apart from the formed article; and a linear-drive mechanism in communication with the insert for moving the insert between the forming position and the extraction position; characterized by at least two pressure pad assemblies disposed between the insert and an interior surface of the recess, each one of the at least two pressure pad assemblies including a temperature compensating spacer element for biasing the insert along a direction that is normal to the drive direction, such that during operation of the forming tool within a predetermined temperature range a substantially gapless boundary is formed between the second forming surface and the first forming surface along a predetermined segment of the perimeter of the second forming surface, and such that a variable-sized gap is formed between the second forming surface and the first forming surface along other than the predetermined segment of the perimeter of the second forming surface.