# US 2013/0152356 A1 · Material removal system for use with articles having variations in form

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- Number: US 2013/0152356 A1
- Document ID: US20130152356A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/329,125
- Filed: 2011-12-16
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16
- Assignees: Design & Assembly Concepts, Inc.; Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
- Inventors: Clayton A. OWNBY; David W. DARLING; Mark E. GANNINGER; Philip COURTOIS
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152356A1

## CPC

- B24B 27/0038: {with the grinding tool mounted at the end of a set of bars}
- B24B 27/04: Grinding machines or devices in which the grinding tool is supported on a swinging arm
- Y10T 29/49764: with testing or indicating
- Y10T 29/53022: with means to test work or product
- B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method of removing unwanted material from an article having a variable form can include scanning the article and determining, based on the scanning, a location of the unwanted material, determining tool paths of a cutting tool which will result in removal of the unwanted material, and displacing the cutting tool along the tool paths, thereby removing the unwanted material. A material removal system for removing unwanted material from an oilfield drill bit can include a rotary indexing device which rotates the drill bit about a longitudinal axis of the drill bit, a scanning device which scans an outer surface of the drill bit, and a controller which determines a geometry of the drill bit, based on at least one scan by the scanning device, determines a location of the unwanted material, and determines tool paths of a cutting tool for removal of the unwanted material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of removing unwanted material from an oilfield drill bit, the method comprising:
scanning the oilfield drill bit;
determining, based on the scanning, a location of the unwanted material;
determining tool paths of a cutting tool which will result in removal of the unwanted material; and
displacing the cutting tool along the tool paths, thereby removing the unwanted material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the unwanted material is positioned between blades of the drill bit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein determining the location of the unwanted material further comprises determining radii between a recess and adjacent sides of the blades.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein scanning further comprises scanning helically along a surface of the drill bit between the blades.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein determining the location of the unwanted material further comprises determining a width between the blades.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein determining the location of the unwanted material further comprises determining a number of the blades.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein determining the location of the unwanted material further comprises determining an angular spacing of the blades.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein determining the location of the unwanted material further comprises determining a depth between the blades.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein displacing the cutting tool comprises displacing the cutting tool to approximately the depth between the blades, thereby removing the unwanted material positioned outward from the depth.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein determining the location of the unwanted material further comprises determining a helical pitch of the blades.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein displacing the cutting tool comprises displacing the cutting tool along the tool paths aligned with the helical pitch.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein determining the helical pitch comprises circumferentially scanning the blades at axially spaced apart positions.

### Claim 13 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein determining the location of the unwanted material further comprises determining a rake of the blades.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein scanning comprises scanning axially along a surface of the drill bit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein determining the location of the unwanted material comprises determining at least one of the group comprising a drill bit diameter, a shank diameter, an inflection point and a bevel top, based on the axial scanning.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein scanning comprises scanning circumferentially about blades of the drill bit.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein determining the location of the unwanted material comprises determining at least one of the group comprising number of the blades, angular spacing of the blades, widths between the blades, radii at sides of the blades, rake of the blades and helical pitch of the blades, based on the circumferential scanning.

### Claim 18

A material removal system for removing unwanted material from an oilfield drill bit, the system comprising:
a rotary indexing device which rotates the drill bit about a longitudinal axis of the drill bit;
a scanning device which scans an outer surface of the drill bit; and
a controller which a) determines a geometry of the drill bit, based on at least one scan by the scanning device, b) determines a location of the unwanted material, and c) determines tool paths of a cutting tool for removal of the unwanted material.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the scanning device comprises at least one of the group comprising a laser, radar, an ultrasound sensor, a physical probe and an optical scanning device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the location of the unwanted material is unknown until determined by the controller.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the geometry of the drill bit is unknown until determined by the controller.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein there is relative rotation between the drill bit and the scanning device while the scanning device scans the outer surface of the drill bit.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the rotary indexing device rotates the drill bit while the cutting tool removes the unwanted material.

### Claim 24 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the unwanted material is positioned between blades of the drill bit.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the drill bit geometry determined by the controller comprises radii between a recess and adjacent sides of the blades.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the scanning device scans helically along the outer surface of the drill bit between the blades.

### Claim 27 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the drill bit geometry determined by the controller comprises a width between the blades.

### Claim 28 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the drill bit geometry determined by the controller comprises a number of the blades.

### Claim 29 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the drill bit geometry determined by the controller comprises an angular spacing of the blades.

### Claim 30 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the drill bit geometry determined by the controller comprises a depth between the blades.

### Claim 31 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the drill bit geometry determined by the controller comprises a helical pitch of the blades.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, wherein the controller displaces the cutting tool along the tool paths aligned with the helical pitch.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, wherein the controller determines the helical pitch based on multiple circumferential scans of the blades at axially spaced apart positions.

### Claim 34 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the drill bit geometry determined by the controller comprises a rake of the blades.

### Claim 35 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the scanning device scans axially along the outer surface of the drill bit, whereby an axial scan is produced.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The system of claim 35, wherein the drill bit geometry determined by the controller comprises at least one of the group comprising a drill bit diameter, a shank diameter, an inflection point and a bevel top, based on the axial scan.

### Claim 37 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the scanning device scans circumferentially about blades of the drill bit, whereby one or more circumferential scans are produced.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The system of claim 37, wherein the drill bit geometry determined by the controller comprises at least one of the group comprising number of the blades, angular spacing of the blades, widths between the blades, radii at sides of the blades, rake of the blades and helical pitch of the blades, based on the one or more circumferential scans.