Abstract: A sensor element for a cutting tool has a hard portion having a first sensing surface, first and second electrodes, and first and second sets of thermocouple wires, and an electrically insulating portion. The second electrode has a second sensing surface, The hard portion comprises hard and/or super-hard material and the first and second electrodes comprise electrically conductive hard and/or super-hard material, the hard portion isolating the first sensing surface from the second sensing surface. The second electrode is attached to or forms part of an electrically conductive region of the hard portion or a region attached thereto. Electric current flows between the first and second electrodes through external material when the sensing surfaces contact the material in response to the cutting tool engaging the material. The first and second electrodes are operable to indicate any one or more of a temperature of the first and second electrodes, and conductivity between the electrodes.

Abstract: A sensor element for a cutting tool (100) has a hard portion (110) having a sensing surface (112), first and second electrodes (120, 130), first and second sets of thermocouple wires (122, 132) and an electrically insulating portion. The first and second electrodes (120, 130) are arranged to allow electric current to flow when the sensing surface (112) contacts external material in response to the cutting tool engaging the external material. A first thermocouple junction (124) is operable to indicate a temperature of the first electrode and a second thermocouple junction (134) is operable to measure temperature of the second electrode.

Abstract: A cutter assembly for a cutting tool has a super-hard volume of super-hard material having a proximal end and a distal end and including a cavity; and a cover member. The super-hard volume has a super-hard surface at the distal end including a cutting edge. The cavity has a cavity open end at the distal end. The super-hard surface includes a cavity peripheral area coterminous with the cavity open end and the cover member has a cover peripheral area configured to mate with the cavity peripheral area to allow the cover member to cover the cavity at the cavity open end, the covered cavity providing a housing chamber within the super-hard volume. A method of making a cutter assembly is also disclosed.