An instrumented cutter including a polycrystalline diamond table bonded to a substrate with a sensor, for monitoring the condition of the polycrystalline compact diamond table, embedded in the substrate. Further the instrumented cutter includes a wireless transmitter equipped with a power supply to power to the wireless transmitter.

Systems and methods are disclosed for selecting a drill bit design that reduces or eliminates bit induced stick-slip. In some embodiments, each of a set of test drill bits is correlated with stick-slip events, wherein each of the test drill bits has a different design pattern comprising a combination of structural attributes. The design pattern stick-slip correlation includes, for each of the test drill bits, detecting variations in motion of the test drill bit during drilling operation. Stick-slip for each of the test drill bits is detected based on the detected variations in motion of the test drill bits during operation. The correlation further includes in response to detecting stick-slip, recording a stick-slip event in association with the corresponding test drill bit. The method further includes determining a performance efficiency value for each of the plurality of test drill bits and correlating the determined performance efficiency values with the stick-slip events to determine a threshold performance efficiency value. A design pattern for a drill bit is selecting or determined based, at least in part, on the threshold performance efficiency value.

Systems and methods are disclosed for selecting a drill bit design that reduces or eliminates bit induced stick-slip. In some embodiments, each of a set of test drill bits is correlated with stick-slip events, wherein each of the test drill bits has a different design pattern comprising a combination of structural attributes. The design pattern stick-slip correlation includes, for each of the test drill bits, detecting variations in motion of the test drill bit during drilling operation. Stick-slip for each of the test drill bits is detected based on the detected variations in motion of the test drill bits during operation. The correlation further includes in response to detecting stick-slip, recording a stick-slip event in association with the corresponding test drill bit. The method further includes determining a performance efficiency value for each of the plurality of test drill bits and correlating the determined performance efficiency values with the stick-slip events to determine a threshold performance efficiency value. A design pattern for a drill bit is selecting or determined based, at least in part, on the threshold performance efficiency value.

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.

Displacements for use in forming at least a portion of a bit body of an earth-boring rotary drill bit may comprise a machineable material portion configured to form an integral machineable material portion of the bit body. Such displacements may optionally also include a sacrificial material portion. Bit bodies resulting from the use of such displacements may comprise a main body comprised of a particle-matrix composite material and a plurality of integral machineable material portions. Earth-boring rotary drill bits may include such bit bodies. Methods of manufacturing such bit bodies, and methods of manufacturing earth-boring rotary drill bits utilizing displacements are also disclosed.

Displacements for use in forming at least a portion of a bit body of an earth-boring rotary drill bit may comprise a machineable material portion configured to form an integral machineable material portion of the bit body. Such displacements may optionally also include a sacrificial material portion. Bit bodies resulting from the use of such displacements may comprise a main body comprised of a particle-matrix composite material and a plurality of integral machineable material portions. Earth-boring rotary drill bits may include such bit bodies. Methods of manufacturing such bit bodies, and methods of manufacturing earth-boring rotary drill bits utilizing displacements are also disclosed.

A downhole tool includes a blade coupled to a body. The body and blade rotate about a longitudinal axis. A pre-formed faceplate is connected to the blade and partially defines a cutter pocket therein. Another portion of the cutter pocket is defined by the blade. The cutter pocket includes a sidewall and a base, with the sidewall formed by the blade and the pre-formed faceplate, and the base formed by the blade. The pre-formed faceplate includes a pre-formed hardfacing element. A downhole tool includes a blade coupled to a body. The body and blade rotate about a longitudinal axis. A pre-formed segment is connected to the blade and has a cutter pocket therein. The cutter pocket includes a sidewall and a base, and a cutting element is coupled to the pre-formed segment and within the cutter pocket. The pre-formed segment is optionally made of a different material than the blade and has increased wear and/or erosion resistance compared to the blade.

A downhole tool includes a blade coupled to a body. The body and blade rotate about a longitudinal axis. A pre-formed faceplate is connected to the blade and partially defines a cutter pocket therein. Another portion of the cutter pocket is defined by the blade. The cutter pocket includes a sidewall and a base, with the sidewall formed by the blade and the pre-formed faceplate, and the base formed by the blade. The pre-formed faceplate includes a pre-formed hardfacing element. A downhole tool includes a blade coupled to a body. The body and blade rotate about a longitudinal axis. A pre-formed segment is connected to the blade and has a cutter pocket therein. The cutter pocket includes a sidewall and a base, and a cutting element is coupled to the pre-formed segment and within the cutter pocket. The pre-formed segment is optionally made of a different material than the blade and has increased wear and/or erosion resistance compared to the blade.

A drill bit for cutting formation comprises a bit body, a plurality of cutters, a plurality of blades with pockets to accommodate the cutters respectively. Each of the plurality of cutters has an ultra-hard layer, two side facets extending obliquely inward from the substrate to a top surface of the ultra-hard layer, a convex portion between the two side facets. The convex portion comprises a transition surface and the transitional surface is convex as it extends between adjacent the two side facets. The curvature of the transitional surface varies along the cutter axis with the curvature at the cutting edge larger than the curvature of the cutter circumferential surface.

A drill bit for cutting formation comprises a bit body, a plurality of cutters, a plurality of blades with pockets to accommodate the cutters respectively. Each of the plurality of cutters has an ultra-hard layer, two side facets extending obliquely inward from the substrate to a top surface of the ultra-hard layer, a convex portion between the two side facets. The convex portion comprises a transition surface and the transitional surface is convex as it extends between adjacent the two side facets. The curvature of the transitional surface varies along the cutter axis with the curvature at the cutting edge larger than the curvature of the cutter circumferential surface.