Smith International, Inc.

Karl O Kuhn

Gunes M Ecer

William J Salesky

A cladding process is disclosed wherein hard carbide cutter inserts, as well as polycrystalline diamond composites, are metallurgically bonded into an exterior core of a rock bit cone or a drag bit body. The cladding is bonded onto the exterior surface of the core of the cone or the drag bit by a powder metallurgy process. A thin layer or coating of a suitable metal, preferably nickel, is provided on, for example, the carbide inserts, prior to mounting into the core. The coating prevents degradation of the carbide through loss of carbon into the core during the powder metallurgy process and accommodates mismatch of thermal expansion between the cutter insert and the core.

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Laguna Niguel, CA, United States of America

Karl O Kuhn