Abstract: A cutter assembly may include a sleeve; and at least one cutting element having a lower spindle portion retained in the sleeve and a portion of the cutting element interfacing an axial bearing surface of the sleeve, wherein an outer diameter D of the cutting element and a radial length T of a substantially planar portion of the axial bearing surface of the sleeve have the following relationship: (1/25)D?T?(1/4)D.

Abstract: A drill bit has a bit body, a plurality of blades extending radially from the bit body, wherein each blade comprises a leading face and a trailing face, a plurality of cutter pockets disposed on the plurality of blades, at least one rolling cutter, wherein each rolling cutter is disposed in one of the cutter pockets, and wherein each rolling cutter comprises a cutting face, a cutting edge, an outer circumferential surface, and a back face. A back retainer is disposed adjacent to the back face, wherein the back retainer protrudes partially into the rolling cutter along a rotational axis of the rolling cutter, and a front retainer is disposed adjacent to the at least one rolling cutter on the leading face of the blade. Each front retainer has a retention end, wherein the retention end is positioned adjacent to a portion of the cutting face of each rolling cutter, and an attachment end, wherein the attachment end is attached to a portion of the blade.

Abstract: A cutting structure may include an outer support element; and an inner rotatable cutting element comprising a cutting surface at its upper end; wherein the inner rotatable cutting element comprises at least one line contact along a circumferential side surface thereof and/or at least one point contact at a bottom face thereof.

Abstract: A cutting tool is disclosed that includes a tool body, a plurality of cutting element support structures extending from the tool body, at least one slot formed in at least one of the cutting element support structures, a cutting element having a diamond shearing element with a plurality of surfaces, and at least one mechanical retention mechanism adjacent to the cutting element. Each cutting element support structure has a leading face, a top side, and a trailing face, and the slot has two side surfaces, each side surface terminating at the leading face and top side of the cutting element support structure. Each surface of the cutting element has two dimensional values, wherein the cutting element is positioned in the at least one slot such that a plane in which the shortest dimensional value lies intersects the slot side surfaces.

Abstract: A cutting element has a sleeve with a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter, where the second inner diameter is larger than the first inner diameter and located at a lower axial position than the first inner diameter. A rotatable cutting element having an axis of rotation extending therethrough is at least partially disposed within the sleeve. The rotatable cutting element has a cutting face and a body extending axially downward from the cutting face, at least one hole extending from an outer surface of the body toward the axis of rotation, and a locking device disposed in each hole. The locking device protrudes from the hole to contact the second inner diameter of the sleeve, thereby retaining the rotatable cutting element within the sleeve.

Abstract: In one aspect, an impregnated drill bit is provided having at least one insert positioned within at least one of the plurality of blades such that the insert spans more than 75% of the height of the blade and at least a portion of the blade has a blade height of at least 40 mm. In another aspect, an impregnated drill bit is provided having a plurality of blades with at least a portion of at least one blade having a blade height of at least 60 mm. Also provided are methods of manufacturing such impregnated drill bits.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a bit body, a plurality of blades extending radially from the bit body, a plurality of cutter pockets disposed on the plurality of blades, at least one rolling cutter disposed in one of the cutter pockets, wherein each rolling cutter has a substrate, a cutting face, a cutting edge, and a side surface, and at least one blocker positioned adjacent to each of the at least one rolling cutters on a leading face of the blade, wherein each blocker has a retention end and an attachment end. The retention end of each blocker is positioned adjacent to a portion of the cutting face of each rolling cutter to retain the rolling cutter in the cutter pocket and the attachment end is attached to a portion of the blade.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a matrix tool body comprising placing a first matrix material within a first region of a mold cavity proximate a surface of the mold. A second matrix material may be placed within a second region of the mold cavity positioned inwardly of the first matrix material. The first matrix material and the second matrix material comprise a plurality of hard particles. The plurality of hard particles of the second matrix material have a median particle size that is less than the median particle size of the first matrix material. The plurality of hard particles of the first matrix material and the second matrix material are infiltrated with an infiltration binder to form the tool body. Also included are tool bodies having one or more regions proximate a surface of the tool body comprising an erosion resistant matrix material and/or a wear resistant matrix material.

Abstract: A cutting tool may include a tool body having a plurality of blades extending radially therefrom; each of the plurality of blades having a plurality of cutter pockets formed therein; and at least one rotatable cutting element having a cutting table with a convex cutting surface mounted in at least one of the plurality of cutter pockets, wherein the at least one rotatable cutting element is mounted in a nose or shoulder region of the at least one of the plurality of blades.

Abstract: A cutting element assembly includes a rotatable cutting element having an axis of rotation extending axially therethrough, a cutting face and a body extending axially downward from the cutting face, at least one retention mechanism disposed adjacent to the rotatable cutting element, and a first magnet disposed at a back face of the rotatable cutting element.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a matrix tool body comprising placing a first matrix material within a first region of a mold cavity proximate a surface of the mold. A second matrix material may be placed within a second region of the mold cavity positioned inwardly of the first matrix material. The first matrix material and the second matrix material comprise a plurality of hard particles. The plurality of hard particles of the second matrix material have a median particle size that is less than the median particle size of the first matrix material. The plurality of hard particles of the first matrix material and the second matrix material are infiltrated with an infiltration binder to form the tool body. Also included are tool bodies having one or more regions proximate a surface of the tool body comprising an erosion resistant matrix material and/or a wear resistant matrix material.

Abstract: A cutting tool may include a tool body; at least one blade extending radially from the tool body; a plurality of cutters disposed on the at least one blade; and at least one retention component, each retention component contributing the retention of at least two of the plurality of cutters at a side surface thereof.

Abstract: A cutting element assembly includes a cutting element partially disposed within a support and a retention mechanism disposed between the cutting element and the support, both the axial and radial dimensions of the retention mechanism being deformable.

Abstract: A cutting element may include a polycrystalline diamond layer and a reduced-CTE substrate comprising diamond particles disposed in a matrix material, wherein the diamond particles have a contiguity of 15% or less. Also, a cutting element may include a polycrystalline diamond layer and a reduced-CTE substrate comprising a matrix material, at least one diamond-filled region, and embedded diamond particles.

Abstract: Cutter assemblies include an outer support and a cutting element disposed therein. The cutting element is immovably attached to the outer support element. Also disclosed is downhole tools incorporating such cutter assemblies and methods of making such downhole tools.

Abstract: A cutting element assembly includes a sleeve, a lining extending a distance axially from an end of the sleeve, and an inner cutter. The inner cutter has a cutting end, wherein the cutting end extends a depth from a cutting face, a side surface, and a body, wherein the body is at least partially disposed within the sleeve, and wherein the side surface of the cutting end interfaces with an interfacing surface of the lining.

Abstract: Cutter assemblies comprising an outer support element and a cutting element disposed therein. The cutting element is immovably attached to the outer support element. Also provided are downhole tools incorporating such cutter assemblies and methods of making such downhole tools.

Abstract: A cutting element assembly may include a sleeve; an inner cutting element in the sleeve; and a blocker retained in the sleeve with at least one locking device and covering a portion of a cutting face of the inner cutting element. Cutting tools may include a tool body; a plurality of blades extending radially from the tool body, each blade comprising a leading face and a trailing face; a plurality of cutter pockets on the plurality of blades; at least one cutting element in one of the cutter pockets; and at least one blocker positioned adjacent to a cutting face of the at least one cutting element and the leading face of the blade, the blocker being retained to the cutter pocket with at least one locking device.

Abstract: A cutting tool cutting tool may include a tool body having a plurality of blades extending radially therefrom, a plurality of rotatable cutting elements having a first chamfer mounted on at least one of the plurality of blades, and a plurality of non-rotatable cutting elements having a second, distinct chamfer mounted on at least one the plurality of blades.

Abstract: A method of forming a cutting element that includes filling at least one non-planar region on an upper surface of a carbide substrate with a diamond mixture, subjecting the substrate and the diamond mixture to high pressure high temperature sintering conditions to form a reduced-CTE substrate having polycrystalline diamond that extends a depth into the reduced-CTE substrate in an interface region, and an upper surface made of a composite surface of diamond and carbide, and attaching a polycrystalline diamond body to the composite surface of the reduced-CTE substrate is disclosed.