| abstract |
A method for manufacturing a matrix drill bit includes: placing a metallic blank within a casting assembly including a mold having an inner surface formed into a negative shape of facial features of the drill bit; loading powder into an annulus formed between the blank and the mold, the powder including at least one of: ceramic powder and cermet powder; placing a binder alloy into the casting assembly over the blank and the mold; protecting the binder alloy from oxidation; inserting the casting assembly, blank, powder, and binder alloy into a furnace; operating the furnace to heat the protected binder alloy to an infiltration temperature between solidus and liquidus temperatures thereof, thereby infiltrating the powder with the binder alloy and forming a bit body; removing the bit body from the furnace; and after removal, attaching cutters to blades of the bit body. |