Heated tooling

Tooling for forming a composite object 26 (such as for an aircraft), the tooling having an object side 32, which contacts the object, a substrate 12 providing the shape; a non-woven Carbon Nanotube (CNT) mat 14 bonded to the substrate; an electrically insulating layer 20 bonded to the non-woven CNT mat, first and second electrical contacts 18 define a heating area on the non-woven CNT mat and supply electrical power to the heating area, an electrical power supply is connected to the first and second electrical contacts, the temperature of the heating area is increased for heating the object. A layer of thermally conductive material 22, such a tinned steel may spread heat. A bead of conductive epoxy 16 may be provide electrical continuity between the electrical contacts and the non-woven CNT mat. A vacuum bag may be provided. Methods of constructing such tooling are described and their use in making a preform or cured composite object by draping fabric, either with a binder or pre-impregnated are described.