Patent ID: 7159487

Claim:
A method for forming a drill bit body, comprising: selecting at least one displacement, wherein the at least one displacement comprises: a substantially cylindrical body having a diameter selected to substantially conform to the radius of a cutting element having a diamond table; and a projection adapted to form a relief groove in the drill bit body, wherein the relief groove is positioned under the diamond table of the cutting element when the cutting element is mounted on a mounting pad formed in the drill bit body, wherein a width of the relief groove is selected so that the relief groove extends back from an outer surface of the drill bit body at least about 40 percent of that portion of a thickness of the diamond table which does not extend past the outer surface of the drill bit body; inserting the displacement into a mold; and infiltrating powdered tungsten carbide with a binder alloy in the mold to form from said displacement said mounting pad and said relief groove in the drill bit body.