Methods for determining wear volume of a tested polycrystalline diamond element
View Patent ↗Embodiments of methods are disclosed for characterizing a tested polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) element, such as a PDC cutting element. In an embodiment, a method for characterizing a tested PCD element is disclosed. An initial volume of a PCD element is measured using a coordinate measuring machine (“CMM”). A workpiece is cut with the PCD element so that the PCD element develops a wear flat. A post-cut volume of the PCD element is measured after cutting the workpiece using the CMM. A wear volume of the PCD element is determined at least partially based on the post-cut volume and the initial volume of the PCD element.
1. A method for characterizing a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) element that is tested, comprising:
measuring an initial volume of the PCD element using a coordinate measuring machine;
cutting a workpiece with the PCD element so that the PCD element develops a wear volume;
measuring a post-cut volume of the PCD element after cutting the workpiece using the coordinate measuring machine; and
determining the wear volume of the PCD element at least partially based on the post-cut volume and the initial volume of the PCD element.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein measuring an initial volume of the PCD element using a coordinate measuring machine comprises measuring the initial volume using a laser coordinate measuring machine.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein measuring the initial volume using a laser coordinate measuring machine comprises scanning the PCD element with a laser.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein cutting a workpiece with the PCD element so that the PCD element develops a wear volume comprises cutting the workpiece with the PCD element in a vertical turret lathe.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein measuring a post-cut volume of the PCD element after cutting using the coordinate measuring machine comprises measuring the post-cut volume of the PCD element at different stages during the cutting of the workpiece.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising determining a G ratio for the PCD element based at least partially on the post-cut volume measured at the different stages.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein measuring a post-cut volume of the PCD element after cutting using the coordinate measuring machine comprises measuring the post-cut volume using a laser coordinate measuring machine.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein measuring the post-cut volume using a laser coordinate measuring machine comprises scanning the PCD element with a laser after cutting the workpiece.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the wear volume of the PCD element at least partially based on the post-cut volume and the initial volume of the PCD element comprises calculating a difference between the initial volume and the post-cut volume of the PCD element.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the PCD element comprises a polycrystalline diamond compact.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the polycrystalline diamond compact comprises a PCD table bonded to a substrate.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the PCD element comprises a freestanding polycrystalline diamond element without a substrate.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the workpiece comprises a granite workpiece.
14. A method for designing manufacturing process for a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) element, the method comprising:
measuring an initial volume of a first PCD element using a coordinate measuring machine that was fabricated in a first manufacturing process;
cutting a workpiece with the first PCD element so that the first PCD element develops a wear volume;
measuring a post-cut volume of the first PCD element after cutting the workpiece using the coordinate measuring machine;
determining the wear volume of the first PCD element at least partially based on the post-cut volume and the initial volume of the first PCD element; and
modifying a manufacturing process used to fabricate the first PCD element at least partially based on the wear volume.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first PCD element comprises a polycrystalline diamond compact.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the polycrystalline diamond compact comprises a PCD table bonded to a substrate.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the first PCD element comprises a freestanding polycrystalline diamond element without a substrate.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein measuring an initial volume of a first PCD element using a coordinate measuring machine that was fabricated in a first manufacturing process comprises measuring the initial volume using a laser coordinate measuring machine.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein measuring the initial volume using a laser coordinate measuring machine comprises scanning the first PCD element with a laser.
20. A method for characterizing a polycrystalline diamond compact that is tested, comprising:
measuring an initial volume of the polycrystalline diamond compact using a coordinate measuring machine;
cutting a workpiece with the polycrystalline diamond compact so that the polycrystalline diamond compact develops a wear volume;
measuring a post-cut volume of the polycrystalline diamond compact after cutting the workpiece using the coordinate measuring machine; and
determining the wear volume of the polycrystalline diamond compact at least partially based on the post-cut volume and the initial volume of the polycrystalline diamond compact.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein measuring a post-cut volume of the PCD element after cutting using the coordinate measuring machine comprises measuring the post-cut volume of the PCD element at different stages during the cutting of the workpiece.