Patent ID: 8252226

Claim:
A method for performing high energy treatment on a cutter to form a high energy treated cutter, comprising: obtaining at least one cutter comprising a substrate comprising a mixture of a metallic material and a binder material, the substrate having a top surface, an outer region, and an inner core and a wear resistant layer coupled to the top surface; providing protection around the wear resistant layer; and applying a high energy treatment to the at least one cutter to form at least one high energy treated cutter, wherein the substrate is exposed to the high energy treatment and the wear resistant layer is protected from exposure to the high energy treatment, wherein applying a high energy treatment comprises: placing the at least one cutter in a cascading machine having at least one rotatable drum; adding a medium into the at least one rotatable drum; and rotating the at least one rotatable drum, wherein the substrate of the at least one cutter is subjected to high energy impact, the at least one cutter being transformed into the at least one high energy treated cutter, wherein providing protection comprises a first protective cover securely coupled around the wear resistance layer, the first protective cover covering the wear resistance layer during the high energy treatment, and wherein the first protective cover is secured to the wear resistance layer via a clamp coupled around the circumference of the first cover or a glue coupled between the first cover and the wear resistance layer.