Polycrystalline Diamond Compact Bit Manufacturing
AssigneeVarel Europe S.A.S.
InventorsAlfazazi Dourfaye, Gary M. Thigpen
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Abstract
A method of manufacturing PDC drill bits includes inspecting a plurality of cutters. The method further includes inspecting a plurality of pockets of a bit body. A cutter of the plurality of cutters is assigned to a pocket of the plurality of pockets based on the inspection of the plurality of cutters and the inspection of the plurality of cutter pockets. A robot positions the cutter inside the pocket and applies heat to a brazing material to produce a molten brazing material within the pocket.
Claims24
A method of manufacturing polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bits, the method comprising:
- inspecting a plurality of cutters;
- inspecting a plurality of pockets of a bit body;
- assigning a cutter of the plurality of cutters to a pocket of the plurality of pockets based on the inspection of the plurality of cutters and the inspection of the plurality of cutter pockets;
- positioning, by a robot, the cutter of the plurality of cutters inside the pocket of the plurality of pockets;
- and
- applying heat, by the robot, to a brazing material to produce a molten brazing material within the pocket.
A system for manufacturing polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bits, the system comprising:
- a camera for inspecting a plurality of cutters and for inspecting a plurality of pockets of a bit body;
- a robot configured to position a PDC cutter of a plurality of PDC cutters inside a pocket of a plurality of pockets and to apply heat to a brazing material to produce a molten brazing material within the pocket of the plurality of pockets;
- and
- a heating system for heating the bit body including the plurality of pockets to a preheat temperature.
An automated device for use in a manufacture of polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bits, the automated device comprising:
- a controller;
- a first arm for positioning a cutter of a plurality of cutters inside a pocket of a plurality of pockets of a bit body;
- and
- a second arm for applying heat to a brazing material to produce a molten brazing material within the pocket of the plurality of pockets, wherein the controller is configured to control the first arm and the second arm.
A computer system for controlling manufacturing of polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bits, the computer system comprising:
- a module for controlling inspections of a plurality of cutters and inspections of a plurality of pockets of a bit body;
- a module for controlling assignment of a cutter of the plurality of cutters to a pocket of the plurality of pockets based on the inspection of the plurality of cutters and the inspection of the plurality of cutter pockets;
- a module for controlling operations of a robot in positioning the cutter of the plurality of cutters inside the pocket of the plurality of pockets;
- and
- a module for controlling application of heat by the robot to a brazing material to produce a molten brazing material within the pocket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.