A bit assembly includes a base block and a bit holder having a forward body portion and a generally cylindrical shank. The forward body portion includes a plurality of vanes that define a plurality of cavities or flutes configured to carry removable size pieces from a trenched area to the adjacent surface alongside a trenching machine. The spaced cavities are supported by the vertical vanes that also aid in removing the loosened material. The shank of the bit holder includes an annular groove configured to receive a bit retainer once the bit holder is inserted into a bore of a base block.

The invention relates to a cutting device for an earth working machine, having improved wear protection.

An improved diamond coated tip on a bit/holder for road milling operations has a broadened tip base that provides cutting overlap with adjacent bit/holders resulting in a micro milling type surface when utilizing a regular inch center-to-center drum.

A rotatable or non-rotatable bit for road milling, mining, and trenching equipment that includes a substantially solid body and a substantially solid, generally cylindrical shank depending from a bottom of the body. The bit can be a unitary piece or can include a forward portion friction welded to a forward end of the body. The forward portion is machined after being friction welded and/or the unitary piece is machined to include an outer profile and a bore having a bore termination with a flat distal end and an arcuate portion curving into the sidewall of the bore. The bore is adapted to receive a bit tip insert complementary shaped to the bore of the forward portion.

A unitary diamond bit/holder, tool, and/or pick assembly that includes a forward extension axially extending from a body of the bit/holder and a tungsten carbide ring mounted in an annular trough at a forward end of the body around the forward extension. An axially shortened diamond tipped bit tip insert is brazed to the forward extension, within a bore of the forward extension, and/or to a tungsten carbide plug which is then seated within a bore of the forward extension.

A cutting tool is provided. The cutting tool comprising a tip, a body and a shank for attaching the cutting tool to a tool holder. The body has an outer body surface, a body shank end arranged towards the shank and a body tip end arranged towards the tip. The tip has an outer tip surface, a tip peak and a tip base, the tip base being attached to the body tip end of the body. The cutting tool comprises a plurality of grooves extending substantially continuously over both the outer tip surface and the outer body surface, each groove having a predetermined extension in a longitudinal direction of the cutting tool.

Improvements in previous bit assembly components including shortened slotted shanks and shortened base block bore receiving portions disclose relationships between shank differential interference portions and the corresponding base block bores. Changes in the differences in interference angles lead to changes in slot width, length and steel hardnesses in order to provide necessary retaining forces between the shank and base block bore.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to cutting tool assemblies, material-removing machines that include cutting tool assemblies, and methods of use and operation thereof. In some embodiments, the cutting tool assemblies described herein may be used in material-removing machines that may remove target material. For example, the cutting tool assemblies may include one or more superhard working surfaces and/or one or more shields.

A new scanning electrochemical microscopy tip positioning method that allows topography and surface activity to be resolved independently is presented. A SECM tip is oscillated relative to the surface of interest. Changes in the oscillation amplitude, caused by the intermittent contact of the SECM tip with the surface of interest, are used to detect the surface of interest, and as a feedback signal for various types of imaging.

A bit holder and corresponding base block are disclosed wherein a slotted shank of the bit holder includes a reverse taper portion adjacent a distal end thereof. A base block with a bore for receiving said shank includes a corresponding hollow portion of reverse taper configuration that will tend to retain said shank therein.