A method of fabricating plates of super-hard material and cutting techniques suitable for such a method. A method of fabricating a plate (14) of super-hard material, the method comprising: • providing a substrate (4) have a lateral dimension of at least 40 mm; • growing a layer of super-hard material on the substrate (4) using a chemical vapour deposition process; and • slicing one or more plates (14) of super-hard material from the substrate using a collimated cutting beam (8), the or each plate of super-hard material (14) having a lateral dimension of at least 40 mm, wherein the collimated cutting beam (8) is collimated with a half angle divergence of no more than 5 degrees.

Method and system for manufacturing of three dimensional objects comprising of base substrate (18) placed on the supporting plate (30), electron beam gun (2), feed means (17) for feeding of feedstock material to melting zone, positioning system (31, 36) for positioning of said supporting plate (30) with base substrate (18), vacuum tight operating chamber (29), wherein an energy source for generating of molten pool on the substrate and for melting of feedstock material in said system is gas-discharge electron beam gun (2) with cold circular cathode (8) placed between two circular anodic electrodes placed coaxially to said cathode (8) which generates electron beam (9) in the shape of hollow inverted cone, and feedstock guide (17) is placed along the axis of said of said electron beam gun (2), and said gas-discharge electron beam gun (2) and said feedstock guide (17) are combined in one functional assembly.

A method is provided for manufacturing a segment of a drill string, such as a tubular tool, from a plurality of layers. The method includes arranging a plurality of layers based on a selected length of the segment. Each of the plurality of layers includes an aperture that is received over an alignment feature that restricts movement of the plurality of layers to two or fewer degrees of freedom. A joining process is performed to join the plurality of layers, which may include at least one replacement layer.

The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing methods, apparatuses, systems and software that effectuate formation of a robust 3D object comprising at least one metal alloy. The 3D object may be formed by 3D printing. The 3D object may comprise diminished defects (e.g., heat cracks). The alloy may be formed by diffusion. The diffusion may be a controlled diffusion. The control may comprise (e.g., real time) temperature control during the formation of the 3D object. The 3D object may comprise controlled crystal structure and/or metallurgical phases.

New beta-style (bcc) titanium alloys are disclosed. The new alloys generally include 4-8 wt. % Al, 4-8 wt. % Nb, 4-8 wt. % V, 1-5 wt. % Mo, optionally 2-6 wt. % Cr, the balance being titanium, optional incidental elements, and unavoidable impurities. The new alloys may realize an improved combination of properties as compared to conventional titanium alloys.

New beta-style (bcc) titanium alloys are disclosed. The new alloys generally include 2.0-6.0 wt. % Al, 4.0-12.0 wt. % V, and 1.0-5.0 wt. % Fe, the balance being titanium, any optional incidental elements, and unavoidable impurities. The new alloys may realize an improved combination of properties as compared to conventional titanium alloys.

The present disclosure relates to new materials comprising Al, Co, Ni and Ti. The new materials may realize a single phase field of a face-centered cubic (fcc) solid solution structure immediately below the solidus temperature of the material. The new materials may include at least one precipitate phase and have a solvus temperature of at least 1100° C. The new materials may include 2.1-8.4 wt. % Al, 4.7-60.6 wt. % Co, 29.6-89.3 wt. % Ni, and 3.9-9.4 wt. % Ti. In one embodiment, the precipitate is selected from the group consisting of the L1.sub.2 phase, the B2 phase, the Ni.sub.3Ti phase, and combinations thereof. The new alloys may realize improved high temperature properties.

The present disclosure relates to new materials comprising Al, Co, and Ni. The new materials may realize a single phase field of a face-centered cubic (fcc) solid solution structure immediately below the solidus temperature of the material. The new materials may include at least one precipitate phase and have a solvus temperature of at least 1000° C. The new materials may include 6.7-11.4 wt. % Al, 5.0-48.0 wt. % Co, and 43.9-88.3 wt. % Ni. In one embodiment, the precipitate is selected from the group consisting of the L1.sub.2 phase, the B2 phase, and combinations thereof. The new alloys may realize improved high temperature properties.

New alpha-beta titanium alloys are disclosed. The new alloys generally include 7.0-11.0 wt. % Al, and 1.0-4.0 wt. % Mo, wherein Al:Mo, by weight, is from 2.0:1-11.0:1, the balance being titanium, any optional incidental elements, and unavoidable impurities. The new alloys may realize an improved combination of properties as compared to conventional titanium alloys.

The present disclosure relates to new materials comprising Al, Co, Cr, and Ni. The new materials may realize a single phase field of a face-centered cubic (fcc) solid solution structure immediately below the solidus temperature of the material. The new materials may include at least one precipitate phase and have a solvus temperature of at least 1000° C. The new materials may include 2.2-8.6 wt. % Al, 4.9-65.0 wt. % Co, 4.3-42.0 wt. % Cr, and 4.8-88.6 wt. % Ni. In one embodiment, the precipitate is selected from the group consisting of the L1.sub.2 phase, the B2 phase, the sigma phase, the bcc phase, and combinations thereof. The new alloys may realize improved high temperature properties.