Producing polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bits with catalyst-free and substrate-free PDC cutters

A method comprising:

• forming a plurality of catalyst-free, substrate-free synthesized polycrystalline diamonds using compressive pressures within a range of 10 Gigapascals (GPa) to 35 GPa and temperatures within a range of 2000 Kelvin (K) to 3000 K, wherein each polycrystalline diamond is free of a substrate;
• providing the plurality of polycrystalline diamonds, each of the polycrystalline diamonds having a cross-sectional dimension of at least 4 millimeters;
• depositing the plurality of polycrystalline diamonds within a mold;
• after depositing the plurality of polycrystalline diamonds within the mold, depositing a matrix body material within the mold;
• and
• performing an infiltration process to bond the plurality of polycrystalline diamonds to the matrix body material and form a substrate-free polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bit, wherein the infiltration process comprises heating the plurality of polycrystalline diamonds and the matrix body material deposited within the mold to an infiltration temperature greater than about 700 degrees Celsius (° C.) and less than about 1400° C.