Abstract: A system and method for articulated impingement mold heating utilizes a reduced mass mold having a first open-back mold half and a second open-back mold half. A preform is loaded into a mold cavity delineated by a first cavity shell of the first open-back mold half and a second cavity shell of the second open-back mold half. An outer shell surface of both the first cavity shell and the second cavity shell is then heated using an at least one heating nozzle following a heating path. The first open-back mold half and the second open-back mold half are pressed together and a cooling mechanism is utilized to cool the reduced mass mold; the cooling mechanism being an at least one cooling nozzle following a cooling path or an at least one cooling plug. Once cooled, a molded piece shaped from the preform is removed from the mold cavity.