Patent ID: 8065935

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a rotary drill bit, comprising: providing a body having a centerline and including a leading end having a formation-engaging surface for contacting a formation during drilling; forming at least one cutting element pocket, wherein the forming the at least one cutting element pocket comprises: forming at least one recess comprising a substantially arcuate surface in the formation-engaging surface of the body; and affixing at least one support element comprising a support surface to the body and positioning the support surface relative to the substantially arcuate surface of the at least one recess in the formation-engaging surface of the body to form the at least one cutting element pocket; disposing a cutting element within the at least one cutting element pocket, the cutting element having a cutting face, a surface distal to the cutting face, and at least one lateral side surface therebetween; abutting the surface of the cutting element distal to the cutting face thereof against the support surface of the at least one support element; and affixing at least a portion of the at least one lateral side surface of the cutting element directly to the substantially arcuate surface of the at least one recess formed in the formation-engaging surface of the body.