The force modulation system for a drill bit includes a cutter, a holder, a holder retention device, and a first force member made of a first woven material. The cutter fits in the holder, and the holder fits in the drill bit. The holder retention device exerts a holder retention force in a first direction. The first force member exerts a first force in a second direction. The second direction is angled offset to the first direction so as that a cutting profile of the force modulation system is variable. There can also be a second force member of a second woven material to exert a second force in the first direction for more variability of the cutting profile in the first direction. The second force member can be made integral with the first force member, including the first woven material and the second woven material being the same material.

A cutting tool includes a body configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis, a blade connected to the body, and a pre-formed segment. The blade extends away from the body and includes a recess formed in a leading face of the blade. The pre-formed segment is disposed in the recess adjacent to the leading face of the blade. The pre-formed segment is connected to the blade. The pre-formed segment includes a cutter pocket therein, the cutter pocket having a sidewall and a base.

A cutting tool includes a body configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis, a blade connected to the body, and a pre-formed segment. The blade extends away from the body and includes a recess formed in a leading face of the blade. The pre-formed segment is disposed in the recess adjacent to the leading face of the blade. The pre-formed segment is connected to the blade. The pre-formed segment includes a cutter pocket therein, the cutter pocket having a sidewall and a base.

Cutters for a downhole drill bit can be formed by providing a catalyst-free synthesized polycrystalline diamond (PCD) having a cross-sectional dimension of at least 8 millimeters; providing a substrate comprising tungsten carbide; and attaching the synthesized PCD to the substrate comprising tungsten carbide to form a PDC cutter.

Cutters for a downhole drill bit can be formed by providing a catalyst-free synthesized polycrystalline diamond (PCD) having a cross-sectional dimension of at least 8 millimeters; providing a substrate comprising tungsten carbide; and attaching the synthesized PCD to the substrate comprising tungsten carbide to form a PDC cutter.

An earth-boring tool includes a body having a plurality of blades. Each blade of the plurality of blades extends axially and radially relative to a center longitudinal axis of the body. The earth-boring tool further includes a plurality of cutting elements secured within the plurality of blades and at least one protrusion trailing at least one cutting element of the plurality of cutting elements in a direction of intended rotation of the earth-boring tool and extending along a lateral side of a blade of the plurality of blades in which the at least one cutting element is secured. The earth-boring tool may further include a pocket extending into the at least one blade from a rotationally leading face of the at least one blade in at least a shoulder region of the at least one blade.

An earth-boring tool includes a body having a plurality of blades. Each blade of the plurality of blades extends axially and radially relative to a center longitudinal axis of the body. The earth-boring tool further includes a plurality of cutting elements secured within the plurality of blades and at least one protrusion trailing at least one cutting element of the plurality of cutting elements in a direction of intended rotation of the earth-boring tool and extending along a lateral side of a blade of the plurality of blades in which the at least one cutting element is secured. The earth-boring tool may further include a pocket extending into the at least one blade from a rotationally leading face of the at least one blade in at least a shoulder region of the at least one blade.

A cutter element for a drill bit includes a base portion having a central axis, a first end, and a second end. In addition, the cutter element includes a cutting layer fixably mounted to the first end of the base portion. The cutting layer includes a cutting face distal the base portion. The cutting face includes a first planar surface and a second planar surface that is circumferentially-spaced from the first planar surface. Each planar surface is positioned at an outer periphery of the cutting face adjacent the radially outer surface of the cutting layer. The cutting face also includes a saddle surface including a crown and a pair of lateral side surfaces that slope down and away from the crown toward the radially outer cylindrical surface of the cutting layer. The crown extends from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

A cutter element for a drill bit includes a base portion having a central axis, a first end, and a second end. In addition, the cutter element includes a cutting layer fixably mounted to the first end of the base portion. The cutting layer includes a cutting face distal the base portion. The cutting face includes a first planar surface and a second planar surface that is circumferentially-spaced from the first planar surface. Each planar surface is positioned at an outer periphery of the cutting face adjacent the radially outer surface of the cutting layer. The cutting face also includes a saddle surface including a crown and a pair of lateral side surfaces that slope down and away from the crown toward the radially outer cylindrical surface of the cutting layer. The crown extends from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

Embodiments relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) including a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) table in which a metal-solvent catalyst is alloyed with at least one alloying element to improve thermal stability of the PCD table. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a substrate and a PCD table bonded to the substrate. The PCD table includes diamond grains defining interstitial regions. The PCD table includes an alloy comprising at least one Group VIII metal and at least one metallic alloying element that lowers a temperature at which melting of the at least one Group VIII metal begins. The alloy includes one or more solid solution phases comprising the at least one Group VIII metal and the at least one metallic alloying element and one or more intermediate compounds comprising the at least one Group VIII metal and the at least one metallic alloying element.