A casting device and a casting processes for producing a cast component in a mold in which a mold cavity is formed, and a cast component produced by means of the casting process. The casting device includes a first melt feeder, configured to receive a first molten material, a second melt feeder, configured to receive a second molten material, and a feed device configured for simultaneous or temporally independent charging of the mold cavity with the first molten material from the first melt feeder and the second molten material from the second melt feeder by means of gravity. It is provided that the feed device has at least one first outlet that can be introduced into the mold cavity and can be moved relative to the mold cavity in order to charge the mold cavity with the first molten material and/or the second molten material.

A bit for drilling a wellbore includes: a shank having a coupling formed at an upper end thereof; a body mounted to a lower end of the shank; and a cutting face forming a lower end of the bit. The cutting face includes: a blade protruding from the body; a cutter including: a substrate mounted in a pocket formed in the blade; and a cutting table made from a superhard material, mounted to the substrate, and having a non-planar working face with a cutting feature; and a cutter orienting system including: a keyway formed in the substrate and angularly located opposite from the cutting feature; and a key formed in or mounted to the pocket and engaged with the keyway.

The present disclosure provides a production method for a shaping tool component of a press hardening tool that includes producing a preform by an additive production method from metal material. The preform having an outer wall, which at least partially corresponds to a shaping operating face of the tool component. The preform further includes at least one channel wall of a cooling channel adjacent to the outer wall and at least one recess which is at least for the most part further away from the outer wall than the channel wall. After the preform is produced, the at least one recess is filled with liquid metal, which subsequently hardens and forms a portion of the tool component.

An example cooling system for a mold assembly includes a quench plate that defines one or more discharge ports and one or more recuperation ports. A fluid is circulated from the one or more discharge ports to the one or more recuperation ports to cool the mold assembly. A blocking ring is positioned on the quench plate and defines a central aperture for receiving a bottom of the mold assembly. An insulation enclosure having an interior for receiving the mold assembly is positioned on the blocking ring. The blocking ring prevents vapor generated by the fluid contacting the bottom of the mold assembly from migrating into the interior of the insulation enclosure.

An example cooling system for a mold assembly includes a quench plate that defines one or more discharge ports and one or more recuperation ports. A fluid is circulated from the one or more discharge ports to the one or more recuperation ports to cool the mold assembly. A blocking ring is positioned on the quench plate and defines a central aperture for receiving a bottom of the mold assembly. An insulation enclosure having an interior for receiving the mold assembly is positioned on the blocking ring. The blocking ring prevents vapor generated by the fluid contacting the bottom of the mold assembly from migrating into the interior of the insulation enclosure.

An example system for fabricating an infiltrated downhole tool includes a mold assembly having one or more component parts and defining an infiltration chamber to receive and contain matrix reinforcement materials and a binder material used to form the infiltrated downhole tool. One or more thermal conduits are positioned within the one or more component parts for circulating a thermal fluid through at least one of the one or more component parts and thereby placing the thermal fluid in thermal communication with the infiltration chamber.

A method of producing a composite product having cemented carbide tiles embedded in a metal surface thereof, a cemented carbide tile suitable for use in the method and a composite product including such cemented carbide tiles is provided. A mould for casting the product is prepared. Cemented carbide tiles having through holes or recesses are placed at desired surfaces of the mould and secured to the desired surfaces of the mould by fastening elements, such as nails or pins, such that at least part of an elongated body of each respective fastening element protrudes out from respective openings of each through hole or recess facing the mould surface and into the material of the mould to secure the respective cemented carbide tiles in place. Molten metal is poured into the mould to cast the composite product, the casting of which is removed after solidification.

The disclosed drill tools have metal matrix composite (MMC) or steel alloy bodies that are formed around one or more pre-fabricated components using either a casting or infiltration process. The pre-fabricated components are made of sintered, infiltrated, and/or cemented particles of an ultrahard material, and may form any suitable portion of the bit blades. The pre-fabricated components may be loaded into a machined mold, and the mold cavity is subsequently filled with powder, such as tungsten carbide powder, filler metal powder, binder metal powder, or combinations thereof. During a casting or infiltration process, the mold and pre-fabricated components are heated to a sufficient temperature to melt the binder metal and/or filler metal, wherein the molten metal superficially interacts with the inner surfaces of the pre-fabricated components to form a metallurgical bond to secure the pre-fabricated components to the bit body.

The disclosed drill tools have metal matrix composite (MMC) or steel alloy bodies that are formed around one or more pre-fabricated components using either a casting or infiltration process. The pre-fabricated components are made of sintered, infiltrated, and/or cemented particles of an ultrahard material, and may form any suitable portion of the bit blades. The pre-fabricated components may be loaded into a machined mold, and the mold cavity is subsequently filled with powder, such as tungsten carbide powder, filler metal powder, binder metal powder, or combinations thereof. During a casting or infiltration process, the mold and pre-fabricated components are heated to a sufficient temperature to melt the binder metal and/or filler metal, wherein the molten metal superficially interacts with the inner surfaces of the pre-fabricated components to form a metallurgical bond to secure the pre-fabricated components to the bit body.

Dies for forming components, such as sheet components, and methods of producing the dies are disclosed. The die may include a bulk material and a forming surface. A solid conductor may be formed in the bulk material. The solid conductor may be spaced from and extend adjacent to the forming surface and have a melting point that is greater than a melting point of the bulk material. The solid conductor may be configured to absorb heat from the forming surface. There may multiple solid conductors within the bulk material, for example spaced apart and extending along an axis. The solid conductor may be a bundle of carbon fibers, which may be pitch-based. The solid conductor may be conformal to the forming surface, for example, having a constant spacing therefrom. The solid conductor may be cast-in to the die during its production.