The modern mechanical excavation machines have enough power for cutting hard rock. The bottle neck' which limits the use of machines for hard rock excavation is cutting tool'. To cut hard and abrasive rock, CSIRO has been developing Super Material Abrasive Resistant Tools (SMART*CUT). SMART*CUT technology replaces the tungsten carbide (WC) tip of conventional pick with thermally stable diamond composite (TSDC) and attaches the TSDC tip to steel tool body with CSIRO worldwide patented bonding technology. This paper introduces the key features of SMART*CUT, compares its performance with conventional WC tipped tools, discusses the challenges faced by SMART*CUT and the further developments needed for successful application of SMART*CUT to mining industries._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Li, X S and Gipps, I, 2011. Rock cutting tool research and development for step changes in rock mechanical excavation, in Proceedings Second International Future Mining Conference 2011, pp 75-80 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).