METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED APPLICATION MATERIAL COATINGS ON Carbide cutter drill bits, hybrid drill bit having cutting elements with steel teeth with carbide COATING

摘要

The present invention relates to a system and method for automated or "robotic" application of hardfacing to the surface of a steel-toothed cutter of a standard earth-boring rock bit or a hybrid-type rock bit. In particular, the system incorporates a grounded adapter plate and chuck mounted to a robotic arm for grasping and manipulating a rock bit cutter beneath an electrical or photonic energy welding source, such as a plasma arc welding torch manipulated by a positioner. In this configuration, the torch is positioned substantially vertically and oscillated along a horizontal axis as the cutter is manipulated relative along a target path for the distribution of hardfacing. Moving the cutter beneath the torch allows more areas of more teeth to be overlayed, and allows superior placement for operational feedback, such as automatic positioning and parameter correction. In the preferred embodiment, sensors provide data to the control system for identification, positioning, welding program selection, and welding program correction. The control system, aided by data from the sensors, manipulates the robotically held cutter while controlling the operation and oscillation of the torch. These systems and methods can be applied to hardfacing steel teeth of the rolling cutters of both standard tri-cone or di-cone type rolling cone bits, as well as to hybrid-type earth boring drill bits.