Would it be possible to design say 1000 of the soft tools and have the machines auto-replace the "tips", as if it were an ink cartridge that you replace but in an automated way, with an auto-feeding mechanism after their useful life?
No, the tools are big chunks of metal that are carefully machined to very tight tolerances and polished or textured very carefully. You can use something called a MUD, which is basically a carrier block that you put inserts into which create the mold, this is what most of the quick turn shops do
