The following is a compilation of the 1 most commonly used standard flat PDC composite sheet (Flat PDC Cutter) size table in the oil, gas, mining and water well industries. These data are not the rigid numbers in textbooks, but the specifications we run every day on the production line. If you are selecting or designing a drill, this table basically covers 90% of the demand on the market.

Common Flat PDC Cutter Sizes

Series	Model (Model)	Diameter (mm)	Diameter (in)	Total Height (mm)	Diamond Layer Thickness (mm)	Typical Application Scenarios (Typical Application)
08 Series	0808	8.0 ±0.05	0.315	8.0 ±0.1	1.0 – 1.5	coring bits, geological drilling.
10 Series	1004	10.0 ±0.05	0.394	4.5 ±0.1	1.0 – 1.5	soft formation, or repair work.
13 Series	1308	13.44 ±0.05	0.529	8.0 ±0.1	2.0 – 2.5	industry benchmark product. First choice for hard formations in oil and gas drilling.
	1313	13.44 ±0.05	0.529	13.0 ±0.1	2.0-applications 2.5	high wear resistance requirements.
16 Series	1613	16.0 ±0.05	0.630	13.0 ±0.1	2.0 – 2.8	aggressive drilling, large diameter drill bits.
	1616	16.0 ±0.05	0.630	16.0 ±0.1	2.0 – 2.8	working conditions with extremely high life requirements.
19 Series	1913	19.05 ±0.05	0.750	13.0 ±0.1	2.2 – 3.0	large size reamers, soft to medium hard formations.
	1916	19.05 ±0.05	0.750	16.0 ±0.1	2.2 – 3.0	heavy mine and oil field special composite sheet.

PDC Cutter Tolerance

In this circle, if anyone tells you “standard size” without mentioning tolerance, it is probably not professional enough. For high-quality suppliers, these microns must be killed:

• Diameter tolerance: usually controlled within ± 0.05mm. This article is crucial. High-precision brazing (Brazing) requires an extremely small gap between the compact and the pocket. The gap is larger, the solder is filled more, the shear strength is reduced, and the teeth are easy to fall off during drilling.
• Height tolerance: usually ± 0.10mm. Although the impact of height on the assembly is not so large, but in order to ensure that the tooth surface cutting structure balance (Profile), the consistency of the height must be stable.

Pro Tip from the Factory Floor:

If you are doing drill bit repair (Repairing old bits), don’t just take the removed old piece to measure the size-it must be worn out. Be sure to measure the tooth socket (Pocket).

According to my experience, the size of the tooth socket of many old drill bits is often too large due to wear or previous repair and grinding. If you don’t pay attention at this time, plug a standard film into it and it will loosen. In this case, remember to order “enlarged” (Oversized) composite sheets with manufacturers, such as +0.1mm in diameter, so as to ensure interference fit and stable welding.

How Size Affects Drilling Performance

Based on the data we ran from different lithology (Lithologies) sites, the choice of size directly determines whether you “eat soil” or “gnaw bones”:

1. Small teeth (8mm – 13mm)

• Main battlefield: hard formation, abrasive formation.
• Physical logic: A small size like 1308 or 1313 has a higher point load (Point Loading, pressure per unit area). Under the same bit pressure, the small teeth are easier to press into and break hard rock.
• Density advantage: more small teeth can be arranged on the blade. This means that the total volume of the diamond has increased, the redundancy (Redundancy) has also gone up, and there are substitutes next to this broken diamond.

2. Large teeth (16mm – 19mm +)

• Main battlefield: soft to medium formation (shale, sandstone).
• Physical logic: 1913 this large size, the depth of cut (DOC) is large. They are very aggressive, “shoveling” the material out like a shovel in soft rock, and the rate of penetration (ROP) is very high.
• Risk point: the surface area is large, and the impact force absorbed is also large. If jumping in interbedded strata (Interbedded formations), large teeth are more prone to tooth collapse (Spalling).

Don’t Forget the Chamfer (Chamfer Size)

Most of the time you choose the right size of the 1613, but it still collapses when you go down the well. The problem often lies in the chamfer.

• Standard chamfer (0.3 mm-0.4mm): balance type player, taking into account the attack and impact resistance.
• Deep chamfer (>0.5mm): If you know that there is a gravel layer or conglomerate below, you must chamfer deeply. Although a little ROP will be sacrificed, the impact resistance is significantly improved. Even if the drilling speed is slower, it is much more cost-effective than changing heads.

About the Author: Mark Evans

“I am Mark Evans, a Senior Technical Product Manager with over a decade of hands-on experience in PDC manufacturing and application. From the sintering press to the drilling rig, I specialize in bridging the gap between factory tolerances and field performance, helping tool manufacturers and engineers optimize their drill bit designs with the right cutter specifications.”