A wide range of full hole PDC drill bit designs are available and are used in numerous applications within the civil engineering and mining industries.

PDC bits are manufactured with a tungsten carbide crown imparting a much superior wear resistant than equivalent steel headed bits.

Specially developed dome-shaped cutters are incorporated into majority of drill bits due to this type of cutter having excellent impact absorbtion than standard flat cutters. Each PDC cutter has a built in side and back rake, which cuts more evenly and with less torque and vibration. Thus the dome cutter is less susceptible to heat damage and does not suffer edge chipping to the same extent as the flat cutter.

The PDC drill bit has been used extensively in the open cast coal exploration drilling achieving bit life of 10 - 20 times greater than roller cone bits with a penetration rate factor of 2-3 times greater.

Similarily in grout-hole drilling tungsten carbide roller bits had been effective only to limited depths and when unforseen hard bands such as ironstone was encountered. This meant that the drill string had to be extracted and bit changed resulting in significant non production.

The hard bands present no barrier to the PDC drill bit allowing operators to maintain the production schedule. This can be highly significant in grouting operations involving hundreds of holes.

PDC bits produce large volume of cuttings due to the speed of penetration and operators should ensure that flush volumes are adjusted to keep the bit face clean and cooled.