SwitchBlade Hydraulics employ a patented cross-flow design to improve the drilling efficiency of PDC drill bits. Conventional PDC bit hydraulics channel all flow from the central region of the bit outwards. Much of the flow is used inefficiently and contributes little to cleaning and cooling the PDC cutters or to bottom hole cleaning. By using a new cross-flow approach, the SwitchBlade design makes more efficient use of the total fluid volume.

The hydraulic design causes mud to flow first towards the bit centre in front of the secondary blades and then outwards in front of the primary blades. Thus, the primary blades, that cut more rock benefit from cleaning and cooling from 2 nozzles. Additionally, the mechanical design of drill bits using SwitchBlade Hydraulics maximises open face volume, known to benefit penetration rate and reduce bit balling, by using high blades and an open-faced design. New materials and techniques are continually being employed to maximise blade strength and reduce erosion with an extensive programme of fatigue testing to assure adequate strength.

SwitchBlade® Hydraulics were developed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The CFD simulation was verified using laser light and high speed digital photography.