Synthetic diamond cutters can significantly improve rock drilling operations under some cutting conditions, but at a critical surface speed the effectiveness of the drill drops off precipitously. It is felt that this phenomena is associated with the decrease in mechanical strength which accompanies an increase in cutter temperature. In the research proposed the temperature near the cutter surface will be measured when granite cylinders are turned in a lathe using a single diamond cutter. Thermocouples mounted in the tool will provide the temperature as a function of cutting parameters (speed, cooling rate, flank wear), and will be correlated with force measurements from a 3-D force dynamometer. A previously developed finite element code will be used to interpret the temperature measurements, and the experimental date will be used to validate the code's predictive ability. Successful completion of the research plan will permit the design of field tests, which in turn could lead to a strategy for monitoring and controlling the down-hole cutter temperature. This would favorably impact the drill life while speeding the well drilling operation, resulting in significant savings for deep oil reservoirs in hostile locations.
