Systems and methods for manufacturing composite parts may include preheating a tool having a base made of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a tooling surface made of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. Preheating includes heating the tooling surface at a first rate using a first heating system and heating the base at a second rate using a second heating system. Differences in dimensional growth due to thermal expansion of the base and the tooling surface are compensated by spaced-apart box structures coupling the tooling surface to the base, each of the box structures being made of the second material and having a first end fastened to the base and a second end fastened to a back side of the tooling surface.