Patent ID: 7610790

Claim:
A tooling system which comprises a plurality of rectangular tool elements arranged in an array to form perpendicular rows and columns of tool elements to define a tool surface, the elements of the array being movable between a closed position in which the elements contact one another and are secured in position, and an open position in which the elements of the array are spaced apart and are capable of vertical movement relative to one another, wherein the tooling system further comprises at least one bolster means provided to hold the elements of the array securely in the closed position, each bolster means having a plurality of element contacting faces, each element contacting face being configured selectively to apply localized pressure to one or more tool elements of the array to adjust an orientation of the tool elements, aligning edges of the tool elements, so as to correct any inter-row or inter-array misalignment, and causing vertices of four adjacent elements to touch one another in the closed position so that the tool elements of the array tessellate.