Repair Steps
Every tool has its own story.
Whether it has drilled hundreds of meters or pierced the hardest formations, every tool bears the traces of its journey, of what it has endured..
These wear marks are not mere defects: they reveal how the tool has worked and guide every step of our process.
Step 1: Check
Upon arrival at the workshop, the tool undergoes a complete check (number of nozzles, presence and condition of seals, condition of the skirt and blades, erosion), followed by an initial cleaning to prepare for inspection. This detailed inspection then focuses on each blade and all critical areas: cutters are examined individually, as are the skirt, nozzles, channels, bearing surface, and seals. A magnetic inspection of the API thread and thread gauging of the tool's PDC body are also performed to ensure its structural integrity. Following this diagnosis, a report is issued: if the repair proves technically feasible and economically viable, a quote is provided; otherwise, guidance is given toward a new tool or targeted partial repair.
Step 2: Sandblasting
Sandblasting is the step where the tool is completely stripped down to remove impurities and start fresh. This process involves projecting a high-pressure abrasive onto the tool body to eliminate rust residue and old protective coatings such as paint or grease. This results in a clean, uniform surface, perfectly prepared for subsequent operations: detailed visual inspection, recoating, localized repairs, and the application of a new wear-resistant coating.
Step 3: Brazing Removal
The debrazing step consists of removing worn or damaged PDC cutters to prepare the tool for a new configuration. The tool, along with its elements to be debrazed, is brought to a furnace until a precisely defined temperature allows the braze to detach without altering the tool body or damaging the cutters. Upon exiting the furnace, extraction of the identified defective cutters is performed immediately ‘hot,’ one by one, while preserving the integrity of the seats intended for the new cutting elements.
Step 4: Brazing
Brazing is the step where the new PDC cutters are reinstalled in their positions on the tool. The pockets are first prepared, then each cutter is positioned on the tool's cutting structure before being secured using a brazing alloy heated to high temperature. This process ensures a strong and durable bond between the cutter and the tool body—an essential condition for guaranteeing load-bearing capacity and drilling performance.
Step 5: Grinding
Grinding is the stage where the tool regains its original geometry, working supports, and diameter. Deformed, marked, or worn areas are precisely machined to correct critical defects and irregularities, an essential condition for ensuring proper alignment of future PDC cutters and ensuring stable hole holding.
Step 6 : Final Inspection and Packaging
Once it has passed through the grinder, the tool is checked using API GO/NO GO thread gauges to verify that the prescribed dimensions and tolerances are met. A certified inspector checks the overall condition, the integrity of the bonds, and the positioning of the cutters. A dye penetrant test is also performed to detect any cracks not visible to the naked eye. Once these checks are completed, the tool is carefully cleaned and repainted. It is then crated for transport and ready for immediate use upon receipt by the customer.
