Abstract: A hardfacing composition comprising an iron-based binder alloy; and a carbide phase comprising a sintered carbide and a cast tungsten carbide, wherein the cast carbide is present in a quantity of at least 22% by weight, based on the total weight of the carbide phase, and the cast carbide comprises particles having sizes in the range of from 30 to 60 mesh. Also provided is a hardfacing composition comprising an iron-based binder alloy; and a carbide phase comprising a super dense sintered carbide and one or more additional carbide materials, wherein the super dense sintered carbide is present in a quantity of at least 10 percent by weight (% w), based on the total weight of the carbide phase, and comprises particles having sizes in the range of from 16 to 40 mesh. Included are methods of manufacturing such hardfacing compositions and downhole tools having such improved hardfacing compositions applied thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: a disk; a spindle motor configured to rotate the disk; and control circuitry with a spindle motor control loop, coupled to the spindle motor, the control circuitry configured to: inject a bandwidth test frequency into the spindle motor control loop, measure an open loop gain of the spindle motor control loop, calculate, using coordinate transformations, an estimated loop bandwidth of the spindle motor control loop based at least on one iteration of the bandwidth test frequency injection and the open loop gain measurement, and generate optimum loop parameters of the spindle motor control loop.

Abstract: A drill bit configured for boring holes or wells into the earth, the drill bit having a face and a plurality of zones, the drill bit having geometrically sharp inserts located in an inner zone and non-geometrically sharp inserts located in an outer zone.

Abstract: A cutting element for a drill bit includes an outer support element and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, where the inner rotatable cutting element has a body with a non-planar cutting face.

Abstract: A cutting element for a drill bit that includes an outer support element having at least a bottom portion and a side portion; and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, wherein the inner rotatable cutting element includes a substrate and a diamond cutting face having a thickness of at least 0.050 inches disposed on an upper surface of the substrate; and wherein a distance from an upper surface of the diamond cutting face to a bearing surface between the inner rotatable cutting element and the outer support element ranges from 0 to about 0.300 inches is disclosed.

Abstract: A carbide composite material that includes a continuous ductile phase; and at least one discrete carbide region surrounded by the continuous ductile phase, each discrete carbide region may comprise an integrally bridged plurality of cast and/or sintered carbide particles, and each discrete region may have a nodular particle morphology.

Abstract: A cutting element for a drill bit that includes an outer support element having at least a bottom portion and a side portion; and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, wherein the inner rotatable cutting element includes a substrate and a diamond cutting face having a thickness of at least 0.050 inches disposed on an upper surface of the substrate; and wherein a distance from an upper surface of the diamond cutting face to a bearing surface between the inner rotatable cutting element and the outer support element ranges from 0 to about 0.300 inches is disclosed.

Abstract: A cutting element for a drill bit that includes an outer support element having at least a bottom portion and a side portion; and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, wherein the inner rotatable cutting element includes a substrate and a diamond cutting face having a thickness of at least 0.050 inches disposed on an upper surface of the substrate; and wherein a distance from an upper surface of the diamond cutting face to a bearing surface between the inner rotatable cutting element and the outer support element ranges from 0 to about 0.300 inches is disclosed.

Abstract: A composite journal seal for use in a roller cone drill bit may include a substantially ring shaped elastomeric body having at least two axial, radial, or canted sealing surfaces, at least one of the at least two axial, radial, or canted sealing surface being a dynamic sealing surface, and at least one reinforcement layer embedded at least 0.005 inches from the at least one dynamic sealing surface.

Abstract: An insert for a drill bit and method of making an insert is disclosed herein. An insert has a grip region, a cutting extension having a cutting surface, and at least one implant embedded in the cutting extension, wherein the cutting extension comprises a first carbide material and the implant comprises a second carbide material, and wherein the second carbide material has a hardness that is greater than the first carbide material.

Abstract: A cutting element for a drill bit that includes an outer support element having at least a bottom portion and a side portion; and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, wherein the inner rotatable cutting element includes a substrate and a diamond cutting face having a thickness of at least 0.050 inches disposed on an upper surface of the substrate; and wherein a distance from an upper surface of the diamond cutting face to a bearing surface between the inner rotatable cutting element and the outer support element ranges from 0 to about 0.300 inches is disclosed.

Abstract: A cutting element for a drill bit that includes an outer support element having at least a bottom portion and a side portion; and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, wherein the inner rotatable cutting element includes a substrate and a diamond cutting face having a thickness of at least 0.050 inches disposed on an upper surface of the substrate; and wherein a distance from an upper surface of the diamond cutting face to a bearing surface between the inner rotatable cutting element and the outer support element ranges from 0 to about 0.300 inches is disclosed.

Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing between a journal shaft and a rotating cone cutter of a drill bit. In an embodiment, the seal assembly comprises a seal gland positioned between the journal shaft and the cone cutter. In addition, the seal assembly comprises an annular seal body disposed about the journal shaft within an annular recess. The seal body comprises a dynamic sealing surface at its outer diameter D1 that forms a dynamic seal with the sealing surface of the recess and a static sealing surface at its inner diameter D2 that forms a static seal with an outer bearing surface of the journal shaft.

Abstract: A downhole tool having a layer of wear resistant material applied thereon utilizing a thermal spray process and methods of manufacturing such downhole tools.

Abstract: A roller cone drill bit having a layer of wear resistant material applied thereon utilizing a thermal spray process and methods of manufacturing such drill bits.

Abstract: A hardfacing composition comprising an iron-based binder alloy; and a carbide phase comprising a sintered carbide and a cast tungsten carbide, wherein the cast carbide is present in a quantity of at least 22% by weight, based on the total weight of the carbide phase, and the cast carbide comprises particles having sizes in the range of from 30 to 60 mesh. Also provided is a hardfacing composition comprising an iron-based binder alloy; and a carbide phase comprising a super dense sintered carbide and one or more additional carbide materials, wherein the super dense sintered carbide is present in a quantity of at least 10 percent by weight (% w), based on the total weight of the carbide phase, and comprises particles having sizes in the range of from 16 to 40 mesh. Included are methods of manufacturing such hardfacing compositions and downhole tools having such improved hardfacing compositions applied thereon.

Abstract: A cutter for a drill bit used in a geological formation includes a shaped ultra hard working surface. The cutter with the shaped working surface is mounted on a drill bit to provide desired cutting characteristics. The shaped working surface provides varied cutting characteristics depending upon the shape, and the characteristics can vary depending upon the depth of the cut.

Abstract: A carbide composite material that includes a continuous ductile phase; and at least one discrete carbide region surrounded by the continuous ductile phase, each discrete carbide region may comprise an integrally bridged plurality of cast and/or sintered carbide particles, and each discrete region may have a nodular particle morphology.

Abstract: A cutting element for a drill bit includes an outer support element and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, where the inner rotatable cutting element has a body with a non-planar cutting face.

Abstract: A cutting element for a drill bit includes an outer support element and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, where the inner rotatable cutting element has a body with a non-planar cutting face.