In a diamond-coated tool, a flank face of a tool base material includes a first flank face continuously extending to a cutting edge, a second flank face located farther away from the cutting edge than the first flank face and located outside the first flank face when viewed from an inside of the tool base material, and a flank face-side stepped portion connecting the first flank face and the second flank face. A diamond-coated layer is provided on the first flank face and the flank face-side stepped portion.

Provided is a cutting method of cutting, with a diamond cutting tool, a metal material having at least a solid solution layer on a surface, the solid solution layer containing nitrogen atoms as interstitial solid solution atoms. In this method, cutting is performed in a region where a nitrogen concentration is equal to or greater than a predetermined concentration, and cutting is not performed in a region where the nitrogen concentration is less than the predetermined concentration.

A method of making a polycrystalline diamond compact includes forming a first layer of polycrystalline diamond precursor materials comprising diamond particles and a first concentration of catalyst, forming a second layer of polycrystalline diamond precursor materials comprising diamond particles and a second concentration of catalyst, and placing a layer of an infiltrant material in the proximity of the first or the second layer of polycrystalline diamond precursor materials. The second concentration of catalyst is greater than the first concentration of catalyst. The infiltrant material is a catalyst. The first layer and the second layer are sintered under high-pressure high-temperature conditions in the presence of the infiltrant material to form the polycrystalline diamond compact. At least a portion of the catalyst is leached from the polycrystalline diamond compact.

A method of making a polycrystalline diamond compact includes forming a first layer of polycrystalline diamond precursor materials comprising diamond particles and a first concentration of catalyst, forming a second layer of polycrystalline diamond precursor materials comprising diamond particles and a second concentration of catalyst, and placing a layer of an infiltrant material in the proximity of the first or the second layer of polycrystalline diamond precursor materials. The second concentration of catalyst is greater than the first concentration of catalyst. The infiltrant material is a catalyst. The first layer and the second layer are sintered under high-pressure high-temperature conditions in the presence of the infiltrant material to form the polycrystalline diamond compact. At least a portion of the catalyst is leached from the polycrystalline diamond compact.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a hard carbon-based coating. The method includes: a step A of preparing a film-forming apparatus including a power supply device and a discharge electrode containing a carbon material, and a substrate having a surface on which a coating is to be formed; and a step B of causing the film-forming apparatus to repeatedly generate a discharge between the discharge electrode and the substrate, to form a hard carbon-based coating on the surface.

A cutting insert based on a non-limiting aspect has a first member and a second member joined to the first member. The second member has an upper surface and a side surface adjacent to the upper surface. The upper surface includes a first side, a second side and a corner. The upper surface has a first convex portion extending toward the corner, and a second convex portion extending from the first convex portion toward the first side. The second convex portion has a first end portion and a second end portion located closer to the corner than the first end portion. A first length from the first end to the first side is less than a second length from the second end portion to the first side in a top view.

A cutting insert based on a non-limiting aspect has a first member and a second member joined to the first member. The second member has an upper surface and a side surface adjacent to the upper surface. The upper surface includes a first side, a second side and a corner. The upper surface has a first convex portion extending toward the corner, and a second convex portion extending from the first convex portion toward the first side. The second convex portion has a first end portion and a second end portion located closer to the corner than the first end portion. A first length from the first end to the first side is less than a second length from the second end portion to the first side in a top view.

Drilling tools and/or drill bits having notches with buttressed regions and/or notches therewithin to improve notch strength. In some embodiments, the drill/drill bit may comprise a shank comprising a cutting face, the cutting face terminating in a cutting edge. A notch may be formed along the cutting edge, which may be configured to separate chips formed by the drilling tool during operation. A buttressed region may be formed within the notch and may terminate along the cutting edge. The buttressed region may expand a size of the notch in one or more dimensions.

Drilling tools and/or drill bits having notches with buttressed regions and/or notches therewithin to improve notch strength. In some embodiments, the drill/drill bit may comprise a shank comprising a cutting face, the cutting face terminating in a cutting edge. A notch may be formed along the cutting edge, which may be configured to separate chips formed by the drilling tool during operation. A buttressed region may be formed within the notch and may terminate along the cutting edge. The buttressed region may expand a size of the notch in one or more dimensions.

Drilling tools and/or drill bits having notches with buttressed regions and/or notches therewithin to improve notch strength. In some embodiments, the drill/drill bit may comprise a shank comprising a cutting face, the cutting face terminating in a cutting edge. A notch may be formed along the cutting edge, which may be configured to separate chips formed by the drilling tool during operation. A buttressed region may be formed within the notch and may terminate along the cutting edge. The buttressed region may expand a size of the notch in one or more dimensions.