A tool for drilling a borehole through a formation. The tool comprises a body, blades having rotationally leading surfaces extending from the tool body, cutting elements secured at least partially within cutting element pockets, and linear or rounded transition surfaces between the cutting element pockets and the rotationally leading surface of the blades. The rounded transition surfaces have a radius of curvature between about 3 and 150 millimeters. The disclosure also includes a method of manufacturing an earth-boring downhole tool comprising: providing a tool body and blades comprising a rotationally leading surface extending from the tool body; Forming cutting element pockets into the blades proximate the rotationally leading surface of the blades; Forming linear or rounded transition surfaces between the cutting element pockets and the rotationally leading surface of the blades, the rounded transition surfaces having a radius of curvature between about 3 and 150 millimeters; And securing cutting elements at least partially within the cutting element pockets.

A tool for drilling a borehole through a formation. The tool comprises a body, blades having rotationally leading surfaces extending from the tool body, cutting elements secured at least partially within cutting element pockets, and linear or rounded transition surfaces between the cutting element pockets and the rotationally leading surface of the blades. The rounded transition surfaces have a radius of curvature between about 3 and 150 millimeters. The disclosure also includes a method of manufacturing an earth-boring downhole tool comprising: providing a tool body and blades comprising a rotationally leading surface extending from the tool body; Forming cutting element pockets into the blades proximate the rotationally leading surface of the blades; Forming linear or rounded transition surfaces between the cutting element pockets and the rotationally leading surface of the blades, the rounded transition surfaces having a radius of curvature between about 3 and 150 millimeters; And securing cutting elements at least partially within the cutting element pockets.

A fixed cutting structure-composite cone drill bit includes a drill bit body, a fixed cutting structure, and at least one cone. The cone and the fixed cutting structure are disposed on the drill bit body. The cone is rotatably connected to the drill bit body by means of a bearing structure. The distance from the outermost tooth or back cone of the at least one cone to the front side surface of the fixed cutting structure La≤πR/3, and the distance from the outermost tooth or back cone of the at least one cone to the rear side surface of the fixed cutting structure Lb≤πR/3. In the composite drill bit, the distance from the cone to the front/rear side surface of the fixed cutting structure is short, the gap between the cone and the fixed cutting structure is small, transition between cutting structure is smooth.

A fixed cutting structure-composite cone drill bit includes a drill bit body, a fixed cutting structure, and at least one cone. The cone and the fixed cutting structure are disposed on the drill bit body. The cone is rotatably connected to the drill bit body by means of a bearing structure. The distance from the outermost tooth or back cone of the at least one cone to the front side surface of the fixed cutting structure La≤πR/3, and the distance from the outermost tooth or back cone of the at least one cone to the rear side surface of the fixed cutting structure Lb≤πR/3. In the composite drill bit, the distance from the cone to the front/rear side surface of the fixed cutting structure is short, the gap between the cone and the fixed cutting structure is small, transition between cutting structure is smooth.

A drill bit having a rotatable ball bit includes a first bit head and a second bit head, a first set of cutters on the first bit head, and a second set of cutters on the second bit head. The rotatable ball bit is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein the first bit head is distal to the second bit head in the first position, and wherein the second bit head is distal to the first bit head in the second position. A method of operating a rotatable ball bit includes orienting the rotatable ball bit in a first position, wherein a first bit head is oriented distally, rotating the rotatable ball bit about a longitudinal axis, orienting the rotatable ball bit in a second position, wherein a second bit head is oriented distally, and rotating the rotatable ball bit about the longitudinal axis.

A drill bit having a rotatable ball bit includes a first bit head and a second bit head, a first set of cutters on the first bit head, and a second set of cutters on the second bit head. The rotatable ball bit is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein the first bit head is distal to the second bit head in the first position, and wherein the second bit head is distal to the first bit head in the second position. A method of operating a rotatable ball bit includes orienting the rotatable ball bit in a first position, wherein a first bit head is oriented distally, rotating the rotatable ball bit about a longitudinal axis, orienting the rotatable ball bit in a second position, wherein a second bit head is oriented distally, and rotating the rotatable ball bit about the longitudinal axis.

Material removal systems including milling drum and milling-drumless products, systems, manufactures, and methods for removing material, such as concrete or asphalt, or industrial flowing applications may be augmented with manufactures that provide one or more of an alignment feature for controlling orientation of abrasive elements and manufactures that provide destructive interference and durability of abrasive elements during operation. Manufactures and methods of fabricating manufactures are provided. The method allows configurations of matched pairs of individual abrasive elements to be easily made to a variety of applications in a parametric, semi-parametric, or non-parametric manner, and may provide one or more of an alignment feature for controlling orientation of abrasive elements and sinusoidal, near-sinusoidal or non-sinusoidal destructive interference effects, while providing durability of abrasive elements during operation.

Material removal systems including milling drum and milling-drumless products, systems, manufactures, and methods for removing material, such as concrete or asphalt, or industrial flowing applications may be augmented with manufactures that provide one or more of an alignment feature for controlling orientation of abrasive elements and manufactures that provide destructive interference and durability of abrasive elements during operation. Manufactures and methods of fabricating manufactures are provided. The method allows configurations of matched pairs of individual abrasive elements to be easily made to a variety of applications in a parametric, semi-parametric, or non-parametric manner, and may provide one or more of an alignment feature for controlling orientation of abrasive elements and sinusoidal, near-sinusoidal or non-sinusoidal destructive interference effects, while providing durability of abrasive elements during operation.

A rolling cone drill bit for drilling a borehole in earthen formations includes a bit body having a bit axis. In addition, the rolling cone drill bit includes a rolling cone cutter mounted on the bit body and having a cone axis of rotation. The cone cutter includes a cone body, a plurality of teeth arranged in a first inner row, and a plurality of inserts. Each insert is disposed within one tooth in the first inner row.

A rolling cone drill bit for drilling a borehole in earthen formations includes a bit body having a bit axis. In addition, the rolling cone drill bit includes a rolling cone cutter mounted on the bit body and having a cone axis of rotation. The cone cutter includes a cone body, a plurality of teeth arranged in a first inner row, and a plurality of inserts. Each insert is disposed within one tooth in the first inner row.