Abstract: A sensor system has a cutter element for a cutting tool, an interrogation transceiver operable to transmit a radio-frequency (RF) interrogation signal; and a sensor transceiver system operable to receive the RF interrogation signal and to transmit an RF response signal. The sensor transceiver system includes a signal guide medium configured to transduce between the RF interrogation signal, a guided signal in the signal guide medium, and the RF response signal. A characteristic of the RF response signal is dependent upon a condition of the signal guide medium. The cutter element includes the signal guide medium to allow the condition of the signal guide medium to depend upon a condition of the cutter element proximate the signal guide medium. A method of using the sensor system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A composite product has a body of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) material having a PCD proximal end and a PCD distal end, an electronic device including an electronic component, and a connection portion joining the electronic device to the body at the PCD distal end, and comprising metallic join material having a liquidus temperature of 600° C. to 950° C. at atmospheric pressure. At least one of the electronic device and the body includes an electrically insulating portion between the electronic component and the PCD proximal boundary establishing an electrical open circuit condition between the electronic component and the PCD proximal boundary. A method of making the composite product is also disclosed.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond construction comprising a body of polycrystalline diamond material formed of a mass of diamond grains exhibiting inter-granular bonding, wherein between around 50 wt % to around 99 wt % of the diamond grains in a cross-section of the body of polycrystalline diamond material taken at any orientation have a sectorial growth structure. A method of making the polycrystalline diamond construction is also disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a high cBN content polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, PCBN, material. The binder matrix material comprises 2 to 15 wt. % titanium diboride (TiB2).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a disk cutter comprising a cutter body, a plurality of tool holders and a plurality of cutting elements mounted to the tool holders. The tool holders and cutting elements are provided in at least one set about the cutter body, each set comprising two or more tool holders and two or more cutting elements arranged in a pre-determined sequence of configurations.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a disk cutter (18) comprising a cutter body, a plurality of tool holders (24) and a plurality of cutting elements (22) mounted to the tool holders. The tool holders and cutting elements are provided in at least one set about the cutter body, each set comprising two or more tool holders and two or more cutting elements arranged in a p re-determined sequence of configurations.

Abstract: A super hard polycrystalline construction is disclosed as comprising a body of super hard material having a first fraction of super hard grains in a matrix of a second fraction of super hard grains. The average grain size of the first fraction is between around 1.5 to around 10 times the average grain size of the second fraction and the first fraction comprises around 5 vol % to around 30 vol % of the grains of super hard material in the body.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a disk cutter (100) for a cutting assembly of a rock excavation machine. The disk cutter comprising a cutter body (102) including at least one light-weighting aperture (110).

Abstract: This disclosure relates a polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, PCBN, composite material for use in friction stir welding. The PCBN composite material comprises tungsten (W), rhenium (Re) and aluminium (Al) in the binder matrix material.

Abstract: Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, PCBN, material and methods of making PCBN. A method includes providing a matrix precursor powder comprising particles having an average particle size no greater than 250 nm, providing a cubic boron nitride, cBN, powder comprising particles of cBN having an average particle size of at least 0.2 ?m, intimately mixing the matrix precursor powder and the cBN powder, and sintering the intimately mixed powders at a temperature of at least 1100° C. and a pressure of at least 3.5 GPa to form the PCBN material comprising particles of cubic boron nitride, cBN dispersed in a matrix material.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a striking tool for use in a high velocity, high impact energy comminution mill. The tool comprises an elongate body attachable at a first end to the comminution mill, and further comprises a wear resistant element for improving the wear resistance of the striking tool. The wear resistant element comprises a plurality of individual units.

Abstract: A polycrystalline super hard construction has a first region having a body of thermally stable polycrystalline super hard material having a plurality of intergrown grains of super hard material; a second region forming a substrate having a hard phase and a binder phase; and a third region interposed between the first and second regions. The third region includes a composite material having a first phase comprising a plurality of non-intergrown grains of super hard material, and a matrix material. A fourth region interposed between the second and third region has a major proportion having one or more components of the binder material of the second region, and one or more reaction products between the binder material of the second region and one or more components of the third region.

Abstract: A cutter element for an earth-boring tool, comprising a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) volume joined at an interface boundary to a cemented carbide substrate. The PCD volume includes a rake face opposite the interface boundary, an edge of the rake face being suitable as a cutting edge of the cutter element. The PCD volume comprises a plurality of strata directly joined to each other at inter-strata boundaries, in which each of a first plurality of the strata comprises PCD material having a first diamond content; each of a second plurality of the strata comprises PCD material having a second diamond content; the second diamond content being greater than the first diamond content; and the strata of the first and second pluralities disposed in an alternating arrangement with respect to each other.

Abstract: A sensor element for a cutting tool, the sensor element having a hard portion having a working surface and at least one diamond crystal at least partially embedded in the hard portion, the at least one diamond crystal being arranged to generate a piezoresistive signal in response to the working surface engaging external material in use.

Abstract: A method of processing a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) material having a non- diamond phase with a catalyst/solvent material includes leaching an amount of the catalyst/solvent from the PCD material by exposing at least a portion of the PCD material to a leaching mixture, the leaching mixture comprising hydrofluoric acid at a molar concentration of between 12 M to around 28 M, nitric acid at a molar concentration of between around 3 M to around 10 M, and water.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond construction has a body of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) material; and a cemented carbide substrate bonded to the body of polycrystalline material along an interface. The cemented carbide substrate has tungsten carbide particles bonded together by a binder material, the binder material comprising Co; and the tungsten carbide particles form at least around 70 weight percent and at most around 95 weight percent of the substrate. The cemented carbide substrate has a bulk volume, the bulk volume of the cemented carbide substrate having at least around 0.1 vol. % of inclusions of free carbon having a largest average size in any one or more dimensions of less than around 40 microns.