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PDC Stepped Drill Bits: Efficient Drilling for Water Wells and Mining

Jul 28,2025

PDC stepped drill bits (polycrystalline diamond compact bits) feature a stepped cutting structure and high wear resistance, widely used in water wells, construction engineering, and mining.
PDC Stepped Drill Bits: Efficient Drilling for Water Wells and Mining

Structural Design Features​​

  1. Stepped Cutting Layout
    • Zoned Design: The crown is divided into inner cone, nose, shoulder, taper, and gage sections. Inner cones centralize positioning for initial rock fragmentation, while outer sections expand the bore diameter.
    • Dry Chip Removal: Spiral or radial flutes (e.g., constant cross-section designs) efficiently eject debris without hydraulic nozzles.
  2. Multi-Blade & Hybrid Cutters
    • Primary/Secondary Blades: Main blades perform core fragmentation; secondary conical PDC teeth reduce vibration. Asymmetric layouts enhance directional stability (±0.5° precision).
    • Special-Shaped Cutters: Conical/chisel-shaped PDC teeth improve penetration in medium-hard strata.
  3. Material-Specific Adaptations
    • Soft Formations (clay, gypsum): Low-angle steps (15–25°) prevent sediment buildup.
    • Hard Formations (granite, quartzite): High-angle tiers (45–60°) maximize point loading.

 

​​Material and Manufacturing​​

  1. Advanced PDC Materials
    • Wear Resistance: 4–5mm diamond layers increase durability by 300%, suitable for abrasive quartzite or concrete.
    • Gage Protection: Thermally stable diamond (TSP) or diamond-impregnated blocks reinforce gage sections.
  2. Precision Production
    • 3D-Printed Bodies: Metal additive manufacturing ensures ±0.1mm tier alignment (e.g., SUNGOOD TECH’s 72-hour rapid prototyping).
    • Welding Technology: Induction-oxygen welding secures PDC to tungsten carbide bases.

 

Applications​​

  1. Water Wells: Drills 200–500m crystalline rock sections in single runs. SUNGOOD TECH-supported Kenyan projects achieved 400m granite wells with <0.5° deviation.
  2. Construction: Rapid core drilling in concrete/stone piles (diameter: 100–500mm).
  3. Mining: Efficient penetration in iron/gold ores (≤8 Mohs hardness).

 

Limitations & Solutions​​

  • Abrasive Strata: Lifespan drops 60% in quartz-rich formations.
    → SUNGOOD TECH integrates TSP blocks to extend service life.
  • Dry-Drilling Heat: Overheating risk beyond 40m depth.
    → Ceramic heat-dissipation grooves mitigate temperature.

 

Design Specifications by Application​​

​​Application​​

​​Cutter Design​​

​​Flute System​​

Water Well (Soft Rock)

16–19mm PDC

Wide spiral flutes

Concrete Piling

Impact-resistant tips

Shallow stepped flutes

Metal Mining

Micro-stepped TSP teeth

Reinforced radial flow


Conclusion
PDC stepped drill bits enable efficient, precise drilling in non-oil sectors through robust stepped geometry and diamond-enhanced durability. SUNGOOD TECH drives innovations in dry-operation stability and rapid manufacturing, setting benchmarks for complex geology.

🔗 Discover precision engineering for demanding terrains: SUNGOOD TECH Professional Drilling Solutions

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