Method of assembling a drill bit with a jack element

1. A method of assembling a drill bit with a jack element, comprising:

obtaining a drill bit that includes:

a shank; and

a bit body attachable to said shank at a first end and having a working face at a second end opposite said first end, said working face including a receptacle formed proximate a center of said working face;

shaping said receptacle to substantially align a centerline of said receptacle with an axis of rotation of said drill bit;

attaching a pocket within said receptacle;

shaping a central hollow of said pocket to substantially align a centerline of said central hollow with said axis of rotation of said drill bit; and

securing a jack element within said central hollow of said pocket such that said jack element is substantially coaxial with said axis of rotation of said drill bit.

2. A method of assembling a drill bit with a jack element, comprising:

obtaining a drill bit that includes:

a shank; and

a bit body attachable to the shank at a first end and having a working face at a second end opposite the first end and a receptacle formed proximate a center of the working face;

attaching a pocket within the receptacle;

shaping a central hollow of the pocket to align a centerline of the central hollow with an axis of rotation of the drill bit; and

securing a jack element within the central hollow of the pocket with a press fit such that the jack element is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the drill bit.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising forming a channel extending from an interior surface of the receptacle to a bore of the bit body.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising forming a groove into an inner surface of the central hollow of the pocket.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the receptacle formed into the working face is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation before machining to accept the pocket.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the working face further comprises at least one cutting element disposed proximate the axis of rotation.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein an outermost portion of the at least one cutting element proximate the axis of rotation extends a first distance from the working face, and wherein securing the jack element further comprises securing the jack element such that a distal end of the jack element extends a second distance from the working face that is between 25% and 125% greater than the first distance.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one cutting element is pre-flatted to allow insertion of the pocket into the receptacle.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising grinding a portion of the at least one cutting element disposed proximate the axis of rotation to allow insertion of the pocket into the receptacle.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein a material forming the pocket is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, steel, mild steel, hardened steel, stainless steel and a metallic alloy.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the pocket comprises an annular wall thickness not less than 0.125 inches.

12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the central hollow of the pocket comprises a diameter not less than 0.75 inches.

13. The method of claim 2 , wherein attaching the pocket within the receptacle comprises brazing the pocket into the receptacle.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein brazing the pocket into the receptacle further comprises brazing with a brazing alloy filler selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, nickel, aluminum, gold, tin, zinc, a refractory metal, carbide, tungsten carbide, niobium, titanium, platinum and molybdenum.

15. The method of claim 2 , wherein the jack element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, a refractory metal, carbide, tungsten carbide, cemented metal carbide, niobium, titanium, platinum, molybdenum, diamond, cobalt, nickel, iron and cubic boron nitride.

16. The method of claim 2 , wherein the press fit between the jack element and the central hollow of the pocket comprises an interference between 0.0020 and 0.0025 inches.

17. The method of claim 2 , wherein a distal end of the jack element includes a layer of abrasion resistant material selected from the group consisting of natural diamond, polycrystalline diamond, boron nitride, and, tungsten carbide.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the layer of abrasion resistant material comprises a thickness of 0.5 mm to 4.0 mm.

19. The method of claim 2 , wherein the jack element includes a distal end having a domed, rounded, semi-rounded, conical, flat, or pointed geometry.

20. The method of claim 2 , wherein the jack element comprises a polygonal shaft.

21. A method of assembling a drill bit with a jack element, comprising:

obtaining a drill bit that includes:

a shank; and

a bit body attachable to said shank at a first end and having a working face at a second end opposite said first end, said working face including a receptacle formed proximate a center of said working face;

attaching a pocket having a central hollow within said receptacle;

shaping said central hollow of said pocket to align a centerline of said central hollow with an axis of rotation of said drill bit; and

securing a jack element within said central hollow of said pocket such that a centerline of said jack element is substantially coaxial with said axis of rotation of said drill bit.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein said working face further comprises at least one cutting element disposed proximate said axis of rotation.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising grinding a portion of said at least one cutting element to allow insertion of said pocket into said receptacle.