The drill bit design cycle<\/h2>\n
As a Product Line Engineer (PLE), I\u2019m exposed to a wide range of work. My main role is to design and improve the performance of drill bits, as well as make changes to drill bits to meet a customer\u2019s specifications. When I am tasked with a project, it is my job to manage it through all of the stage gates. At the start of every project a kick off meeting is held, where I discuss with sales colleagues the project requirements and all the parameters needed for analyses. After this, computer-aided design (CAD), finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) work are carried out to ensure all criteria are met. Within the design phase, I often have to communicate with other departments for several reasons including to ensure my drill bit is manufacturable and all the materials have been ordered so it can be completed on time.<\/p>\n After the design and manufacturing process is done, I inspect my drill bit and sign its final approval. Sometimes, I also get to see my bit run downhole in the field and get feedback from the customers. This all can happen as quick as within two months! As busy as it may seem it\u2019s rewarding when receiving positive feedback and I aspire to break a drilling record!<\/p>\n Some projects require designers to look at dull bits (a term meaning a bit that has been used), evaluate which modes of vibrations have caused failure before making changes to bit to better its performance. Being exposed to the whole design lifecycle from concept to manufactured to performance results is an experience you don\u2019t receive on many placements; none of my friends are getting this experience.<\/p>\n Besides my main roles of designing and inspecting drill bits, I am currently helping improve the CFD templates as we upgrade our systems. This is done by performing multiple CFD analyses and investigating if the results match with what I expect the fluid flow to be. I\u2019m also involved with an innovative project in which I have to provide a downhole data recorder pocket for testing purposes.<\/p>\n First of all, the work is challenging, and it varies day by day. It keeps me busy, which is a big plus. As no two wells are drilled the same way, one day I work on a conventional drill bit, the next day I\u2019ve got a project on a core bit, which is a completely different type of drill bit that requires a different design technique. The minute after, I\u2019m on the phone with someone over in the US giving them software feedback; there are also a lot of occasions I have to go to the shop floor to inspect bits and mould pots. I have learned a lot and gained new skills since August when I first came, not only have I improved design skills but also how to better interpret graphs and finite element results.<\/p>\n NOV has a nice working environment. Everybody, not only my department colleagues but also mechanics on the shop floor, are very approachable and would patiently explain to me concepts I struggle to understand and provide me with all the help I need. \u00a0The company also has a great social side with football games held every week which bond everyone together. Within the PLE department, I along with three others (who are all graduates from Bath) occasionally watch the local football team Forest Green Rovers.<\/p>\n![\"Nguyen](\"http:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/engdes-student-insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2018\/12\/nguyen-vo-working-on-drill-bit-300x213.png\")
![\"A](\"http:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/engdes-student-insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2018\/12\/nguyen-vo-axial-vibration-237x300.png\")
Why do I enjoy working for NOV?<\/h2>\n