The journal angle is one of the basic design fundamentals of roller cone bits. It is the angle at which the journal is mounted,relative to a horizontal plane. This mounting moves the cutting elements (cones) outside the support members, the journal angle also controls the cutter profile or the pattern it drills, and it affects the amount of cutter action on the bottom of the hole. Though this angle may vary from one rock bit type to the next, in each bit the three journal angles are all identical