Diamond Grades

All surface-set diamond bits manufactured by IDP are available with one of eight standard grades of natural drill diamond set on the cutting surfaces of the bit face. The diamond grades are described as follows:

AAA Grade

Premium quality natural drill diamond. These stones are round to octahedral and dodecahedral in shape and may have small amounts of internal inclusions with no cracks or fissures.

AA Grade

High quality natural drill diamond. These stones are mainly round with a small percentage of off-shaped stones and somewhat spotted as well as crystal shaped stones.

A Grade

Medium quality natural drill diamond. These stones have a generally blocky shape with somewhat broken surfaces and sharp edges. Many have fissures, inclusions and minor surface cracks.

Physical Properties of Natural Diamond Grades

Application of Natural Diamond Grades

The general rule for selecting the appropriate diamond grade is that the harder the rock, the better the diamond toughness and crystal geometry should be. For example, the selection of the “AAA” or “AA” grade would be appropriate for use in a hard, consolidated granite formation while the selection of the “P2” or “P3” grade would be appropriate for use in a limestone or sandstone formation.

Kicker Grade

This is a special grade of diamond that is applied exclusively as gauge diameter setting below the bit face on surface-set diamond bits and casing shoes. The inherently low crystal strength of Kicker grade diamond makes it unsuitable for bit face setting but is more than adequate for use in wear protection applications on the set diameters of drill bits where there is little load on the diamonds. Kicker grade diamonds range in shape from angular or elongated to completely amorphous. Their coloring is variable and they frequently possess fissures, cracks and inclusions.

Surface Set Diamond Type

As the name suggests, the surface-set diamond bit differs from the impregnated diamond type in that they are set with a single layer of natural drill diamond on the working surfaces of the bit crown in a pre-determined pattern. 

The diamonds are mounted in a bit crown powdered metal matrix body that is fused to a steel tool body or shank. Unlike impregnated diamond bits where the controlled erosion of the powdered metal bit crown is desirable to expose new diamond crystals, the metal bond matrix used for all IDP surface-set bits is extremely tough and wear-resistant. The function of the bit crown matrix body on a surface-set bit is to securely hold the diamonds in position throughout the operational life of the bit. 

Surface-Set diamond bits are primarily recommended for use in drilling relatively soft, abrasive, unconsolidated formations that are not effectively drilled by impregnated diamond bits. They are also recommended for use in drilling harder formations where the available rotational speeds and bit loads are insufficient to use impregnated diamond bits due to drilling equipment limitations.

In most cases, surface-set diamond bits will provide higher rates of penetration than impregnated diamond bits in softer formations due largely to the greater degree of exposure of the individual diamond crystals. However, as they are set with only a single layer of diamond crystals, surface-set diamond bits will generally yield a lower overall bit life than impregnated diamond bits.

Applications Of Synthetic Diamond Bits

Our earth core is a treasure of very valuable assets like oil, gas, precious metals including copper, gold and of course diamonds. However, it is not as simple as one thinks with the hard layers. The invention of carbide supported polycrystalline diamond cutter has added a new dimension to the drilling industries. Besides mineral exploration industry, many other applications like water, electricity and construction industry, drilling is a very important activity. Diamond drilling tools help to dig out hard cores efficiently.

Synthetic diamond cutters are useful in geographical exploration. As diamond is the hardest substance, it is effective in drilling hard cores easily. Synthetic diamond cutters can be used in many applications like –

•     Water Conservancy

•     Power engineering

•     Building construction

•     Installing gas pipes and drilling reinforced concrete structures

Besides these applications, diamond bits can be used on glass, stones, tiles, marbles, slate, granite and many more. The synthetic diamonds are laboratory or cultivated diamonds but in terms of hardness, thermal conductivity, they are superior than natural diamonds. Thus, synthetic diamonds are widely used in cutting and drilling tools. The synthetic diamond core bits are generally used to cut cylindrical samples of geographical structures. In cutting tools, synthetic diamond bits are used in drilling tools. These bits are available in different sizes and shapes.

Ideal Diamond Product is emerging as leading diamond drill bit manufacturer offering a wide range of synthetic diamond drill bits accompanying all international standards and specifications. In all fronts of knowledge, skills and resources, Ideal Diamond Product is foremost to offer quality tools for drilling industry. Our variety of diamond core bits are useful for deep drilling operations, engineering works, mineral exploration and all other drilling applications. We manufacture high quality tools to offer high penetration capabilities and long lasting bits. Our tools are hard enough to cut through all types of rocks. Just go through our wide range of drilling tools and products to find the right tools for you.

Bit Crown Profiles for Surface-Set Diamond Core Bits

Most sizes of surface-set diamond core bits manufactured by IDP are offered in several different bit crown profiles, each of which has a specific range of application depending on the drilling conditions encountered. The most commonly used surface-set diamond bit crown profiles used for mineral exploration applications are the ‘Semi-Round’, the ‘Stepped’ and the ‘Pilot’ types. For large diameter, thick kerf surface-set diamond core bits that are used in predominantly soft, unconsolidated and abrasive formations, the Round profiles are most commonly used.

1) Semi-Round Profile

This is the most common profile for surface-set diamond mineral exploration core bits and is the standard profile for all core bits with kerf widths of 0.39 inch (10 mm) or less. Semi-round profile core bits are cost effective in that they generally have a lower overall total set carat weight than core bits with comparable kerf widths and nominal diamond sizes that use other bit crown profiles. The application range of the semi-round profile is extensive and is suitable for use in soft to hard formations and is particularly well-suited for use in fractured formations.

2)Stepped Profile

The application of this profile is primarily on medium to wide kerf, Wireline mineral exploration surface-set diamond core bits that are used to drill medium-hard formations. This profile will provide good stabilization where hole deviation is a problem and will usually yield a higher rate of penetration than any other surface-set diamond core bit crown profile. As the nose or “pilot” of this profile is relatively fragile, it is not recommended for use in heavily fractured formations. As the geometry of this profile is not well suited for the setting of large cutting elements, stepped profile surface-set diamond core bits are generally supplied with natural drill diamonds in the 10 SPC to 100 SPC size range.

3)Pilot Profile

The normal application of this profile is for narrow kerf surface-set diamond core bits that are used to drill medium-hard formations. This profile provides good stabilization where hole deviation is a problem and will usually yield a higher rate of penetration than similar kerf width core bits using the Semi-Round profile. This profile is also recommended where the width of the core bit kerf is too narrow to use the Stepped profile.

Diamond Core Drills Manufacturer

Establishment as a small-scale industrial unit in 1981 to manufacture diamond core drill bits, Ideal Diamond Products Pvt. Ltd. in 1990, was reconstituted as a company. Situated in Ramtekdi Industrial Estate, around 2 Kms from Pune, our factory is managed by technocrats and professionals having expertise in application of diamond bits.

As a leading diamond core drills manufacturer, Ideal Diamond Products provides a wide range of quality coring bits, reaming shells, etc. all our products are specially designed and manufactured to offer optimum performance and durability in precise ground conditions.