Method for repairing or reinforcing cutter pockets of a drill bit

摘要

A method for forming pockets (40, 42) of a drill bit (10) includes inserting a displacement plug (30, 32) in a cutter pocket defined by a substrate (28) of a drill bit. A hardfacing material (34) is applied to the substrate and the displacement plug using a plasma arc welding torch. The heat from the plasma arc welding torch reduces an oxide layer on the outer surface of the displacement plug, and the molten hardfacing material flows over the displacement plug and wets against the displacement plug. The displacement plug is then removed to reveal a final cutter pocket configured to receive a cutter compact. The cutter compact is secured to the final cutter pocket by brazing.