A drilling system for a mining machine, the mining machine including a frame and a boom moveable coupled to the frame and a drill string positioned in a blast hole. The system includes an air compressor, a drill bit connected to the air compressor configured to receive low pressure air. The drill bit has a nozzle free drilling body, three sealed rotating cones, each cone with a plurality of cutting elements. Each cone having a sealed bit bearing assembly with diaphragm free lubricant spaces. A single central air conduit in the drilling body providing continuous high flow rate low pressure air from the drill string configured to strike the plurality of outer surfaces of the sealed rotating cones upon exit of the high flow rate low pressurize air from the single central air conduit cooling the sealed bit bearing assemblies. A relief conduit is used.

A drilling system for a mining machine, the mining machine including a frame and a boom moveable coupled to the frame and a drill string positioned in a blast hole. The system includes an air compressor, a drill bit connected to the air compressor configured to receive low pressure air. The drill bit has a nozzle free drilling body, three sealed rotating cones, each cone with a plurality of cutting elements. Each cone having a sealed bit bearing assembly with diaphragm free lubricant spaces. A single central air conduit in the drilling body providing continuous high flow rate low pressure air from the drill string configured to strike the plurality of outer surfaces of the sealed rotating cones upon exit of the high flow rate low pressurize air from the single central air conduit cooling the sealed bit bearing assemblies. A relief conduit is used.

Polycrystalline diamond includes a working surface and a peripheral surface extending around an outer periphery of the working surface. The polycrystalline diamond includes a first volume including an interstitial material and a second volume having a leached region that includes boron and titanium. A method of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond element includes positioning a first volume of diamond particles adjacent to a substrate, the first volume of diamond particles including a material that includes a group 13 element, and positioning a second volume of diamond particles adjacent to the first volume of diamond particles such that the first volume of diamond particles is disposed between the second volume of diamond particles and the substrate, the second volume of diamond particles having a lower concentration of material including the group 13 element than the first volume of diamond particles. Various other articles, assemblies, and methods are also disclosed.

A sensor element for a cutting tool has a hard portion having a first sensing surface, first and second electrodes, and first and second sets of thermocouple wires, and an electrically insulating portion. The second electrode has a second sensing surface, The hard portion comprises hard and/or super-hard material and the first and second electrodes comprise electrically conductive hard and/or super-hard material, the hard portion isolating the first sensing surface from the second sensing surface. The second electrode is attached to or forms part of an electrically conductive region of the hard portion or a region attached thereto. Electric current flows between the first and second electrodes through external material when the sensing surfaces contact the material in response to the cutting tool engaging the material. The first and second electrodes are operable to indicate any one or more of a temperature of the first and second electrodes, and conductivity between the electrodes.

A sensor element for a cutting tool has a hard portion having a first sensing surface, first and second electrodes, and first and second sets of thermocouple wires, and an electrically insulating portion. The second electrode has a second sensing surface, The hard portion comprises hard and/or super-hard material and the first and second electrodes comprise electrically conductive hard and/or super-hard material, the hard portion isolating the first sensing surface from the second sensing surface. The second electrode is attached to or forms part of an electrically conductive region of the hard portion or a region attached thereto. Electric current flows between the first and second electrodes through external material when the sensing surfaces contact the material in response to the cutting tool engaging the material. The first and second electrodes are operable to indicate any one or more of a temperature of the first and second electrodes, and conductivity between the electrodes.

A drill bit for forming a wellbore through a geologic formation includes a connector configured for connection to a drill string and a bit body coupled to the connector. A fixed cutting element is mounted on the bit body for rotation with the bit body and a slot extends through the bit body. A rolling cutting blade is supported in the slot such that an exposed segment of the cutting blade protrudes from slot and concealed segments of the rolling cutting blade adjacent the exposed segment are disposed within the slot. The rolling cutting blade rotates to thereby conceal the exposed segment and expose the concealed segments. A plurality of rotating cutting elements are supported on a periphery of the rolling cutting blade.

A drill bit for forming a wellbore through a geologic formation includes a connector configured for connection to a drill string and a bit body coupled to the connector. A fixed cutting element is mounted on the bit body for rotation with the bit body and a slot extends through the bit body. A rolling cutting blade is supported in the slot such that an exposed segment of the cutting blade protrudes from slot and concealed segments of the rolling cutting blade adjacent the exposed segment are disposed within the slot. The rolling cutting blade rotates to thereby conceal the exposed segment and expose the concealed segments. A plurality of rotating cutting elements are supported on a periphery of the rolling cutting blade.

Polycrystalline diamond may include a working surface and a peripheral surface extending around an outer periphery of the working surface. The polycrystalline diamond includes a first volume including an interstitial material and a second volume having a leached region that includes boron and titanium. A method of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond element may include positioning a first volume of diamond particles adjacent to a substrate, the first volume of diamond particles including a material that includes a group 13 element, and positioning a second volume of diamond particles adjacent to the first volume of diamond particles such that the first volume of diamond particles is disposed between the second volume of diamond particles and the substrate, the second volume of diamond particles having a lower concentration of material including the group 13 element than the first volume of diamond particles.

Polycrystalline diamond may include a working surface and a peripheral surface extending around an outer periphery of the working surface. The polycrystalline diamond includes a first volume including an interstitial material and a second volume having a leached region that includes boron and titanium. A method of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond element may include positioning a first volume of diamond particles adjacent to a substrate, the first volume of diamond particles including a material that includes a group 13 element, and positioning a second volume of diamond particles adjacent to the first volume of diamond particles such that the first volume of diamond particles is disposed between the second volume of diamond particles and the substrate, the second volume of diamond particles having a lower concentration of material including the group 13 element than the first volume of diamond particles.

A method of positioning a slide for examination is disclosed. The method includes the steps of placing the slide in a carrier configured to retain the slide, placing the carrier in a cartridge configured to accept the carrier, coupling the cartridge to a microscope, and activating the microscope to automatically extract the carrier from the cartridge and position the carrier such that a portion of the slide is disposed within a field of view (FOV) of the microscope.