Patent Publication Number: US-2023150042-A1

Title: Guide dresser, cutter heads and methods of use thereof

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/528,804 filed on Nov. 17, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a guide dresser, cutter heads and methods of use thereof, and more particularly to automated guide dressers having movable cutter assemblies for milling a saw guide. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Production of lumber from raw logs typically involves a first step, called primary breakdown, which involves recovering an elongate square center from a log using head rig equipment. Head rigs generally comprise a large stationary circular saw or a band saw and a travelling carriage. The travelling carriage rotationally transports a log back and forth through the head rig to remove a series of rounded slabs from outer edges of the log thereby producing the squared center of the log, which is commonly called a “cant”. In some processes, cants are produced with two squared-off opposing sides. Primary breakdown typically produces 2-sided and 4-sided cants, rounded edge slabs, and sometimes, large boards. 
     The cants, slabs and boards produced during primary breakdown are further processed during secondary breakdown processes whereby large rectangular side flitches having two opposing parallel sides, are cut from the sides of cants with band saws or circular saws. Flitches are then typically broken down into functional lumber with equipment having multiple parallel circular saw blades mounted onto a fixed driven arbor, commonly known as circular gang saws. The processing step for producing flitches from cants is known as “reducing” while production of functional lumber from flitches comprises multiple steps referred to as “edging” and “re-sawing”. High volume throughput systems often combine the reducing and edging steps into one piece of equipment operating under high saw speeds to enable rapid cutting of wood against high pressures forced by rapid throughput of cants and flitches. 
     Pressing forces applied by high volume throughput of flitches and lumber pieces against circular gang saws often cause undesired lateral movements and vibrations of individual saw blades resulting in deterioration in blade stability and reduced dimensional accuracy in the final finished lumber pieces. It is common practice to provide saw guides interposed between individual blades to maintain their spacing and to minimize the extent of vibration that may occur. The saw guides are securely fixed into place between the individual circular blades by engagement with equipment frame rails or other support elements to provide stability to the saw blades prior to commencing operations. 
     Accurate saw guides improve the performance of the saws (e.g., gang saws) in the production of lumber. In this regard, guide dressers have been developed to mill and machine saw guides to improve and maintain their longevity and accuracy. However, existing guide dressers and cutter heads are not accurate enough to maintain saw guides within desired tolerances. Also, existing guide dressers and cutters are difficult to set properly and require significant manual operation. 
     A need therefore exists for an improved guide dresser and cutter heads that exhibit ease of use and a high degree of accuracy in milling and machining saw guides. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides guide dressers, cutter heads and methods for milling or machining a saw guide. The present disclosure recognizes that there are problems in the current existing guide dresser technologies in respect of the apparatus, cutter heads and methods, and provides an improved guide dresser and cutter heads. 
     An advantage of the present disclosure is the provision of guide dressers and components thereof (e.g., cutter assemblies, cutter heads, etc.) having improved characteristics over existing technologies, tools, processes and systems. 
     In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a guide dresser for milling a saw guide, the guide dresser comprising: a rail or slide system; a first cutter assembly slidably mounted on the rail or slide system, the first cutter assembly having a first rotatable cutter head; a second cutter assembly slidably mounted on the rail or slide system, the second cutter assembly having a second rotatable cutter head; and a guide mount for receiving and maintaining in a stationary position a saw guide, the stationary position being between the first rotatable cutter head and the second rotatable cutter head and the rail or slide system aligned for moving each of the first cutter assembly and second cutter assembly towards or away from the guide mount, the guide dresser being adjustable between an open position and a closed position by slidable movement of the first cutter assembly, the second cutter assembly, or both, wherein: when in the open position, one or both of the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly are positioned away from the guide mount on the rail system, and when in the closed position, both the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly are positioned proximal to the guide mount on the rail system, such that both the first cutter head and second cutter head are capable of contacting the saw guide when it is received within the guide mount. 
     In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a method for milling a saw guide, the method comprising: moving a first cutter assembly and a second cutter assembly on a rail or slide system to engage a first cutter head of the first cutter assembly and a second cutter head of the second cutter assembly against opposing sides of a stationary saw guide; and milling or machining the stationary saw guide. 
     In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a cutter head, the cutter head comprising a circular disc and one or more removable knife retention apparatuses, each of the one or more removable knife retention apparatuses for receiving a knife. 
     In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a cutter head, the cutter head comprising a circular disc having two or more grooves on a face thereof, each groove of the two or more grooves for receiving two or more cutting implements. 
     In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a kit comprising one or more components of the cutter heads described herein. For example, in an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a kit comprising a circular disc for use as a cutter head, and one or more removable knife retention apparatuses. The kit may further comprise one or more knives for mounting in each of the removable knife retention apparatuses. In another embodiment, the kit may comprise a circular disc having two or more grooves on a face thereof for use as a cutter head, and two or more cutting implements. 
     Further advantageous aspects of the present disclosure include the provision of automated guide dressers and methods for automated milling of a saw guide. 
     In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a guide dresser for milling a saw guide, the guide dresser comprising: a rail or slide system; a first cutter assembly slidably mounted on the rail or slide system, the first cutter assembly having a first rotatable cutter head; a second cutter assembly slidably mounted on the rail or slide system, the second cutter assembly having a second rotatable cutter head; a guide mount for receiving and maintaining in a stationary position a saw guide, the stationary position being between the first rotatable cutter head and the second rotatable cutter head and the rail or slide system aligned for moving each of the first cutter assembly and second cutter assembly towards or away from the guide mount, and one or more laser range finders positioned and aligned to take a measurement of the saw guide when the saw guide is positioned in the guide mount, the guide dresser being automatically adjustable between an open position and a closed position by slidable movement of the first cutter assembly, the second cutter assembly, or both, wherein: when in the open position, both the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly are positioned away from the guide mount on the rail system, and when in the closed position, both the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly are positioned proximal to the guide mount on the rail system, such that both the first cutter head and second cutter head are capable of contacting the saw guide when it is received within the guide mount, wherein the slidable movement between the open position and the closed position is in whole or in part an automatic operation based on results of the measurement of the one or more laser range finders. 
     In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a method for automated milling of a saw guide, the method comprising: providing a saw guide to the guide mount of the guide dresser of the present disclosure; activating the one or more laser range finders to acquire measurements of the saw guide; triggering automated operation of the guide dresser to move the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly on the rail or slide system to engage the first cutter head of the first cutter assembly and the second cutter head of the second cutter assembly against opposing sides of the saw guide; and milling or machining the saw guide to provide a milled saw guide. 
     Other aspects and embodiments of the disclosure are evident in view of the detailed description provided herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTON OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages, permutations and combinations of the invention will now appear from the above and from the following detailed description of the various particular embodiments of the invention taken together with the accompanying drawings, each of which are intended to be non limiting, in which: 
         FIG.  1 A  is a side view of a guide dresser according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, showing the guide dresser in an open position. 
         FIG.  1 B  is a side view of a guide dresser according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, showing the guide dresser in a closed position. 
         FIG.  2 A  is a top view of the guide dresser shown in  FIG.  1 A , showing the guide dresser in the open position. 
         FIG.  2 B  is a top view of the guide dresser shown in  FIG.  2 A , showing the guide dresser in the open position. 
         FIG.  3 A  is a perspective view of a front side of an exemplary cutter head of the present disclosure shaped as a circular disc and having knives contained within knife retention apparatuses. 
         FIG.  3 B  is a top view of the front side of the cutter head of  FIG.  3 A . 
         FIG.  3 C  is a perspective view of a back side of the cutter head of  FIG.  3 A . 
         FIG.  3 D  is a side view of the cutter head of  FIG.  3 A . 
         FIG.  3 E  is an extracted view of the knife retention apparatus shown as a component of the cutter head of  FIG.  3 A . 
         FIG.  4 A  is a perspective view of a front side of shows another exemplary cutter head of the present disclosure shaped as a circular disc and having carbide inserts as the milling implement. 
         FIG.  4 B  is a top view of the front side of the cutter head of  FIG.  4 A . 
         FIG.  4 C  is a side view of the cutter head of  FIG.  4 A . 
         FIG.  5 A  is a front view of a cutter assembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5 B  is a cross-sectional view along the A-A line sown in  FIG.  5 A   
         FIG.  6    is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary pivot component for use in association with embodiments of the cutter assembly of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    is an exploded perspective view of a two-part pivotable block component for use in association with embodiments of the cutter assembly of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of an automated guide dresser according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  9    is a flowchart showing the steps of a method for automated milling of a saw guide, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure belongs. Although any methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present disclosure, the suitable methods and materials are described below. 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to guide dressers, cutter heads and methods having improved functionality for milling and machining saw guides. Guide dressers of the present disclosure have moveable cutter assemblies for engaging and disengaging a saw guide. In select embodiments, cutter assemblies are slidably mounted on a rail or slide system so as to be adjustable between an open position and a closed position. Cutter heads of the present disclosure have unique features and configurations for improved milling of a saw guide. 
     The present disclosure provides a number of advantages over existing technologies. For example, existing guide dressers are not accurate enough and are difficult to set properly. This is due to a number of factors, including for example the saw guide being fed into the cutters. Moreover, existing cutter heads are often set in position by hand and are rarely capable of milling a saw guide to desired or even acceptable tolerances. 
     An advantage of the present disclosure is the provision of guide dressers having improved characteristics over existing technologies, in particular having fewer moving parts and using a configuration by which improved cutter heads are moved directly into a saw guide for milling and machining operations. In the guide dressers of the present disclosure, the saw guide remains stationary, and the cutter heads are fed into the saw guide on slidably mounted cutter assemblies. In certain embodiments, the process is automated. For example, in certain embodiments of the present disclosure one or more laser range finders may be employed for automated movement and/or programming of the cutter assemblies. In some embodiments, the cutter heads on respective cutter assemblies are fed into the saw guide using programmable computer numerical control (CNC) programming. 
     In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a guide dresser for milling a saw guide, the guide dresser comprising: a rail or slide system; a first cutter assembly slidably mounted on the rail or slide system, the first cutter assembly having a first rotatable cutter head; a second cutter assembly slidably mounted on the rail or slide system, the second cutter assembly having a second rotatable cutter head; and a guide mount for receiving and maintaining in a stationary position a saw guide, the stationary position being between the first rotatable cutter head and the second rotatable cutter head and the rail or slide system aligned for moving each of the first cutter assembly and second cutter assembly towards or away from the guide mount, the guide dresser being adjustable between an open position and a closed position by slidable movement of the first cutter assembly, the second cutter assembly, or both, wherein: when in the open position, one or both of the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly are positioned away from the guide mount on the rail system, and when in the closed position, both the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly are positioned proximal to the guide mount on the rail system, such that both the first cutter head and second cutter head are capable of contacting the saw guide when it is received within the guide mount. 
     In some embodiments, the guide dresser may further comprise one or more laser range finders positioned and aligned to take a measurement of the saw guide when the saw guide is positioned in the guide mount. In such embodiments, movement of the cutter assemblies may be automated such that the slidable movement between the open position and the closed position is in whole or in part an automatic operation based on results of the measurement of the one or more laser range finders. 
     Thus, in another embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a guide dresser for milling a saw guide, the guide dresser comprising: a rail or slide system; a first cutter assembly slidably mounted on the rail or slide system, the first cutter assembly having a first rotatable cutter head; a second cutter assembly slidably mounted on the rail or slide system, the second cutter assembly having a second rotatable cutter head; a guide mount for receiving and maintaining in a stationary position a saw guide, the stationary position being between the first rotatable cutter head and the second rotatable cutter head and the rail or slide system aligned for moving each of the first cutter assembly and second cutter assembly towards or away from the guide mount, and one or more laser range finders positioned and aligned to take a measurement of the saw guide when the saw guide is positioned in the guide mount, the guide dresser being automatically adjustable between an open position and a closed position by slidable movement of the first cutter assembly, the second cutter assembly, or both, wherein: when in the open position, both the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly are positioned away from the guide mount on the rail system, and when in the closed position, both the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly are positioned proximal to the guide mount on the rail system, such that both the first cutter head and second cutter head are capable of contacting the saw guide when it is received within the guide mount, wherein the slidable movement between the open position and the closed position is in whole or in part an automatic operation based on results of the measurement of the one or more laser range finders. 
     It will be appreciated that while the exemplary embodiments of the guide dresser as shown in the figures herein have the rail or slide system in a horizontal orientation generally parallel to the ground or floor, other configurations are contemplated, such as for example where the slide or rail system is tilted or in an up/down configuration. The rail or slide system also need not provide slidable movement in a linear direction but may also provide a curved path of movement or any other configuration. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, wherein numerals refer to like components, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings that further show exemplary embodiments, without limitation. 
       FIGS.  1 A &amp;  1 B  and  FIGS.  2 A &amp;  2 B  illustrate side and top views, respectively, of an exemplary embodiment of a guide dresser  10  according to the present disclosure. The guide dresser  10  as shown in  FIGS.  1 A &amp;  1 B and  2 A &amp;  2 B  comprises a rail or slide system  12 , a first cutter assembly  20  having a first rotatable cutter head  22  and a motor  24 , a second cutter assembly  30  having a second rotatable cutter head  32  and a motor  34 , and a guide mount  40 . The guide mount  40  is capable of receiving a saw guide  50 . 
     In the guide dressers of the present disclosure, the first cutter assembly  20  and the second cutter assembly  30  are slidably mounted on the rail or slide system  12 . By “rail or slide system”, it is meant to refer to any arrangement of components that allow for movement of the first and second cutter assemblies ( 20 ,  30 ). The rail or slide system  12  may, for example and without limitation, include wheels, tracks, trolleys, grooves, slides, bearings, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, the rail or slide system  12  is a track-and-trolley system. In an embodiment, the rail or slide system  12  comprises a ball screw and linear bearings. By “slidably mounted”, it is meant to refer to any type of movement whereby the cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) is moved from one position to another while attached to the rail or slide system  12 , or components thereof. The first cutter assembly  20  and the second cutter assembly  30  may be mounted on, or attached to, the rail or slide system  12  by any suitable means. 
     In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the rail or slide system  12  comprises a single continuous rail or slide component having both the first cutter assembly  20  and the second cutter assembly  30  slidably mounted thereon. For example, the rail or slide system  12  may extend a length that traverses past (e.g., in front of) the guide mount  40 , with the first cutter assembly  20  mounted on the rail or slide system  12  on one side of the guide mount  40 , and the second cutter assembly  30  mounted on the rail or slide system  12  on the other side of the guide mount  40 . 
     In other embodiments, the rail or slide system  12  comprises a separate apparatus or structure for each of the first cutter assembly  20  and the second cutter assembly  30 . For example, as shown in  FIG.  1 A , each of the first cutter assembly  20  and the second cutter assembly  30  may be mounted on its own rail or slide apparatus ( 14   a,    14   b ). 
     The rail or slide system  12  may be configured for linear movement of each cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ), meaning that the cutter assemblies ( 20 ,  30 ) are moved along a straight path in the rail or slide system  12 . Alternatively, the rail or slide system  12  may have a configuration that provides for non-linear movement of the cutter assemblies ( 20 ,  30 ). For example, the cutter assemblies ( 20 ,  30 ) may travel along a curved or arched path to approach the position of the guide mount  40 . 
     Irrespective of the configuration of the rail or slide system  12 , movement of the cutter assemblies ( 20 ,  30 ) may be manual, automated, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, the position of each cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) on the rail or slide system  12  is controlled with programmable controller, such as a programmable logic controller (PLC) and/or computer numerical control (CNC) programming. In an embodiment, the rail or slide system  12  comprises its own independent motor to drive movement of each cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) on the rail or slide system  12 . The motor may, for example, be a servo motor. In an embodiment, the rail or slide system  12  comprises servo motor-controlled ball screw and linear bearings for programmable and repeatable positioning of each cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ). The rpm and spherical alignment of the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) may also be similarly control by manual processes, automated processes, or a combination thereof. 
     Referring again to  FIGS.  1 A &amp;  1 B and  2 A &amp;  2 B , the first cutter assembly  20  and the second cutter assembly  30  each have respective rotatable cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ). As used herein, the term “rotatable cutter head” is intended to refer to the cutting apparatus for engaging and milling a saw guide  50 . The rotatable cutter head is, for example, mounted on a spindle to which rotational movement is applied. The rotational movement may be from any suitable source. In an embodiment, each cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) has a motor ( 24 ,  34 ) to drive the rotational movement. The motor ( 24 ,  34 ) may, for example, be a belt drive motor which supplies rotational movement to a belt that is connected to both the motor and a spindle connect to the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ). In some embodiments, each cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) has its own motor ( 24 ,  34 ) and drive system for providing rotational movement to the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ). In other embodiments, a single motor may be used to provide rotational movement to the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) on both cutter assemblies ( 20 ,  30 ). Other arrangement and configurations to provide rotational movement to the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) will be well-appreciated by the skilled person. 
     In operation, the guide dressers of the present disclosure maintain a saw guide  50  in a stationary position. In this regard, the guide dressers comprise a guide mount  40  for receiving and maintaining a saw guide  50  in this stationary position. By “stationary position”, it is meant that the saw guide  50  is held in a fixed or substantially fixed position while one or both of the cutter assemblies ( 20 ,  30 ) are moved along the rail or slide system  12  to engage the saw guide  50 . The guide mount  40  is configured for removable attachment of the saw guide  50  and is of sufficient strength to withstand the forces imparted by the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) and keep the saw guide  50  stationary during milling operations. 
     The guide mount  40  is in a suitable position on the guide dresser  10  to place the saw guide  50  between the first rotatable cutter head  22  and the second rotatable cutter head  32 . By this, it is meant that when the first cutter assembly  20  and second cutter assembly  30  travel to an end of, or position on, the rail or slide system  12  that is proximal to the guide mount  40 , the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) are positioned so as to be capable of engaging the saw guide  50  for milling and machining operations. In some embodiments, the guide mount  40  is positioned between the first cutter assembly  20  and second cutter assembly  30 , but slightly askew so that the guide mount  40  does not interfere with the ability of the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) to contact the saw guide  50 . In some embodiments, the guide mount  40  is positioned to one side of the guide dresser  10  and the guide mount  40  has an extension component that places the saw guide  50  in the stationary position between the first rotatable cutter head  20  and the second rotatable cutter head  30 . 
     In operation, the rail or slide system  12  permits movement or travel of the first rotatable cutter head  20  and the second rotatable cutter head  30  towards and away from the guide mount  40  to alternate between an “open position” and a “closed position”. Thus, the guide dresser  10  of the present disclosure is capable of being adjusted between an open position and a closed position. 
     As used herein, the expression “open position” is intended to refer to a configuration of the guide dresser  10  whereby both the first cutter assembly  20  and second cutter assembly  30  are positioned away from the guide mount  40  on the rail or slide system  12 . By “positioned away”, it is meant that the cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) is in a position on the rail or slide system  12  that the cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) would not be capable of engaging or contacting the saw guide  50  when the saw guide  50  is received by the guide mount  40 . In an embodiment, in the open position both the first cutter assembly  20  and second cutter assembly  30  are positioned as far away from the guide mount  40  as is permitted by the rail or slide system  12 . In other embodiments, the first cutter assembly  20  and second cutter assembly  30  may independently be at any distance away from the guide mount  40  along the rail or slide system  12 , and each may be at the same or a different distance away from the guide mount  40 . 
     As used herein, the expression “closed position” is intended to refer to a configuration of the guide dresser  10  whereby both the first cutter assembly  20  and second cutter assembly  30  are positioned such that both the first cutter head  22  and second cutter head  32  are capable of contacting the saw guide  50  when it is received within the guide mount  40 . In the closed position, the guide dresser  10  can operate to mill both sides of the saw guide  50 . 
     In addition to the open position and closed position, it should be understood that the guide dresser  10  disclosed herein is capable of being operated in such a manner that only one of the cutter assemblies ( 20 ,  30 ) is positioned to allow the cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) to engage or contact the saw guide  50 , and thereby mill a single side of the saw guide  50 . 
     In an embodiment, the guide dresser  10  of the present disclosure is fully enclosed within an encasement having a door. In an embodiment, the door is located to provide access to the guide mount  40 . For milling a saw guide  50 , a user or automated controller need only open the door and install a saw guide  50  on the guide mount  40 . Installation of the saw guide  50  on the guide mount  40  is an easy process and is accurately repeatable to provide for reliability in accuracy of milling. In an embodiment, the guide dresser  10  can only be operated when a magnetic door lock is engaged. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  3 A to  3 E , each cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) of the present disclosure includes a cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ). An embodiment of a cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) of the present disclosure is shown in  FIGS.  3 A to  3 E . In this embodiment, the cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) comprises a circular disc  60  and one or more removable knife retention apparatuses  70 , each of the one or more removable knife retention apparatuses for receiving a knife  80 . The circular disc  60  is shaped like a wheel, having a front surface, a back surface and an outer perimeter surface. The circular disc  60  may have apertures traversing from its front surface to back surface. By “front surface” it is meant the side that performs the milling of the saw guide  50 , and the back surface is the opposite side. Each of the knife retention apparatuses  70  can be permanently or removably mounted on the front surface of the circular disc  60 . 
     In an embodiment, the knife retention apparatus  70  is a configuration that can be removably mounted to the circular disc  60 . An exemplary embodiment is shown in  FIG.  3 E  where the knife retention apparatus  70  comprises a knife holder  72 , a knife gib  74 , a knife clamp  76 , and one or more knife gib screws  78 . In this configuration, the knife  80  is positioned between the knife holder  72  and the knife gib  74 , with the knife jib  74  pressing against the knife  80  by way a force applied from the one of more knife screws  78 . The knife clamp  76  is on the opposite side of the knife screws  78  from the knife gib  74  to act as a counterbalance to the force of the knife screws  78 , for example by way of opposing notches in the knife gib  74  and knife clamp  76  into which at least a portion of the knife screw  78  is received. In some embodiments, the knife holder  72  and the knife clamp  76  include one or more mounting apertures for receiving a pin  82  protruding from the circular disc  60 . In an embodiment, the pins  82  are dowel pins. The mounting apertures and pins  82  provide accuracy and rigidity the positioning of the knife retention apparatus  70 , and therefore the position of the knife  80 . 
     Many adjustments to the configuration of the knife retention apparatus  70  can be made. For example, the knife holder  72  can be manufactured to allow any desired knife angle by adjusting the angle of the wall of the knife holder  72  against which the knife  80  is held. In an embodiment, the angle can be any angle between about 15.0° and about 80.0° relative to the front surface of the circular disc  60 . In an embodiment, the angle is between about 45.0° and about 75.0° relative to the front surface of the circular disc  60 . As shown in  FIG.  3 A , the knife holder  72 , knife gib  74 , and knife clamp  76  may be of an elongate shape configured to substantially span a radius of the circular disc  60  when mounted on the circular disc  60 . By “elongate shape”, it is meant a structure that is longer in one direction (e.g., length) than in other directions (e.g., width, height). For example, and without limitation, an elongate shape may be similar to a rectangle in shape. By “substantially span a radius of the circular disc”, it is meant to extend from near the center of the circular disc  60  to near the outer edge of the circular disc  60 . This shape and configuration may be preferred for rigidity and accuracy, but other configurations can also be used. 
     In an embodiment, each knife retention apparatus  70  includes two or more knife screws  78 . In an embodiment, each knife retention apparatus  70  includes 2, 3, 4, 5 or more knife screws  78 . In an embodiment, each knife retention apparatus  70  includes three knife screws  78 . 
     The cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) may include any number of the knife retention apparatuses  70  on the circular disc  60 . In an embodiment, cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) includes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more knife retention apparatuses  70  on the circular disc  60 . In a particular embodiment, cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) includes 3, 4 or 5 knife retention apparatuses  70  on the circular disc  60 . The components of the knife retention apparatuses  70  may mounted on the circular disc  60  by any suitable means. In an embodiment, the knife retention apparatus  70  is mounted to the circular disc  60  by screws, bolts or other types of fasteners. In operation, each knife retention apparatus  70  would have a knife  80  received therein, with the blade protruding outwards. 
     Another exemplary embodiment of a cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) of the present disclosure is shown in  FIGS.  4 A to  4 C . In this embodiment, the cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) comprises a circular disc  90  having grooves  92  on a front face thereof. By “front surface” it is again meant the side that performs the milling of the saw guide  50 . Similar to circular disc  60 , circular disc  90  having grooves  92  may have apertures traversing from its front surface to back surface. By “grooves”, it is meant an indent or depression in the surface. 
     The grooves  92  may be of any suitable shape to receive two or more cutting implements  94 . In an embodiment, each groove  92  is an elongate shape configured to substantially span a radius of the circular disc. By “elongate shape”, it is meant an indent or depression that is longer in one direction (e.g., length) than in other directions (e.g., width, height). For example, and without limitation, an elongate shape of groove  92  may be a channel, in particular a linear channel. By “substantially span a radius of the circular disc”, it is meant to extend from near the center of the circular disc  60  to near or at the outer edge of the circular disc  60 . As shown in  FIG.  4 A , in an embodiment groove  92  extends from near the center of the circular disc  60  to the outer perimeter, with a portion of the outer perimeter surface also removed to form the groove  92 . In other embodiments, the groove  92  may not extend into the outer perimeter surface, but rather may end just before the outer edge of the circular disc  92 . 
     The cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) may include any number of grooves. In an embodiment, the cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) has at least two grooves  92 . In an embodiment, the cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) has 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more grooves  92 . In an embodiment, the cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) has 3, 4 or 5 grooves  92 . In an embodiment, the cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) has 3, 4 or 5 grooves  92  and each of the grooves  92  is an elongate shape configured to substantially span a radius of the circular disc. In an embodiment, the cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) has three grooves  92  and each of the grooves  92  is an elongate shape configured to substantially span a radius of the circular disc. 
     The cutting implements  94  may be positioned at any suitable position within the groove  92  to expose a cutting surface for milling a saw guide  50 , and there may be any suitable number of cutting implements  94  within each groove  92 . In an embodiment, each groove  92  has at least two cutting implements  94  that are separate from each other. In an embodiment, each groove  92  independently has 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more cutting implements  94  that are separate from each other. In an embodiment, each groove  92  independently has 3, 4 or 5 cutting implements  94  that are separate from each other. Each groove  92  may have the same or a different number of cutting implements  94 . In an embodiment, each groove  92  has four cutting implements  94  that are separate from each other. 
     In an embodiment, when two or more of the cutting implements  94  are positioned within a respective groove  92 , the two or more cutting implements  94  are substantially equally spaced from each other along a radially extending wall within each groove  92 . By “substantially equally spaced apart” it is meant that the distance or spacing between each of the cutting implements  94  along a length of the groove  92  is about the same. An example of this is shown in  FIG.  4 A  where cutting implements  94  that are of a square shape are each spaced about the same distance from each other within groove  92 . In other embodiments, the cutting implements  94  may not be equally spaced apart within the groove  94 . 
     In an embodiment, when there are two or more grooves  92 , the cutting implements  94  in each groove  92  may be radially offset from the cutting implements in another groove  92 . For example, the cutting implements  94  in each groove  92  may be offset from the center of the circular disc  90  by a different distance. An example of this is shown in  FIG.  4 B  where the cutting implement  94  closest to the center of the disc in each groove is positioned a different distance away from the center (as shown by A, B and C). By spacing identical cutting implements  94  at different distances from the center of the circular disc  90 , and then having the cutting implements  94  equally spaced apart within the groove  92 , this causes each cutting implement  94  to follow a different circular path upon rotation of the cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ). Thus, upon circular rotation, the two or more cutting implements  94  in each groove cuts a different circular area than the two or more cutting implements  94  in the other grooves. By “circular area” it is meant to refer to the area in the circular path of all of the cutting implements  94  within a respective groove. Since the cutting implements  94  are spaced apart, there would be alternating ‘cut’ and ‘cut’ paths for each groove  92 . In an embodiment, the cutting implements  94  in each groove can be arranged such the different circular area cut by the cutting implements  94  in each groove overlaps with a portion of the different circular area cut by the cutting implements  94  in at least one of the other grooves. This can be configured for any number of grooves  92  and any number of cutting implements  94  within each groove  92 . 
     The cutting implements  94  may be any suitable cutting device for milling a saw guide  50 . In an embodiment, the cutting implement  94  is a knife. In an embodiment, the cutting implements  94  are comprised of carbide. In an embodiment, the cutting implements  94  are approximately square or rectangle pieces of carbide. The cutting implements  94  may be secured to the circular disc  90  in any suitable manner. In an embodiment, the cutting implements  94  are secured to the circular disc  90  a screw or a clamp. In operation, each cutting implement  94  protrudes outwards from the grooves  92  by a sufficient amount to provide for milling of a saw guide  50  (see exemplary in  FIG.  4 C ). The angle of the wall of the groove may be adjusted to change the angle by which the cutting implement  94  contacts the saw guide  50 . 
     In an embodiment, the guide dresser  10  as disclosed herein comprises the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) as disclosed herein. Combined usage of the guide dresser  10  and cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) of the present disclosure is advantageous in providing more accurate and reliable milling of saw guides  50 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , in some embodiments one or both of the first cutter assembly  20  and the second head cutter assembly  30  may include a pivot component  100  for adjusting alignment of the respective cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ) in relation to a saw guide  50  to be milled. The pivot component  100  may be located on the underside of the cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) and may be integral thereto or a separate component attached in some manner to the cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ). When equipped, the pivot component  100  is capable of allowing each cutter assembly to tilt independently in any direction to thereby adjust the alignment of the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) in relation to a saw guide. Titling of the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) can provide for more accurate and precise milling and machining of the saw guide. Since the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) can tilt in any direction by way of the pivot component  100 , the pivot component  100  provides a means of spherical adjustment. 
     In an embodiment, the pivot component  100  of the cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) allows for adjusting vertical alignment of the respective cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ). By “vertical alignment” it is meant to refer to the vertical plane of the cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ), which may be perfectly perpendicular to the plane of travel of the cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) on the rail or slide system  12 , or may be slightly offset. In an embodiment, the vertical alignment is perfectly perpendicular to the plane of travel of the cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ). In an embodiment, the vertical alignment a straight up-down orientation. In some embodiments, the vertical alignment is offset from perpendicular to the plane of travel by about 0.1°, about 0.2°, about 0.3°, about 0.4°, about 0.5°, about 0.6°, about 0.7°, about 0.8°, about 0.9°, about 1.0°, about 1.25°, about 1.5°, about 1.75°, about 2.0°, about 2.25°, about 2.5°, about 2.75°, about 3.0°, about 3.5°, about 4.0°, about 4.5°, or about 5.0°. 
     In an embodiment, both the first cutter assembly  20  and the second cutter assembly  30  comprise a pivot component  100  for independently adjusting alignment of the respective cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ). 
     In an embodiment, the pivot component  100  includes an upper part  102  and a lower part  104 . The upper part  102  and lower part  104  may be of any suitable configuration to allow pivotable movement therebetween. In an embodiment, the upper part  102  is shaped like a spherical plate having a curved bottom that rests within a cupped portion of the lower part  104  (e.g., a spherical plate atop a spherical cup). 
     With reference to  FIG.  6   , a further embodiment of a pivot component  100  is shown in which the upper part  102  and a lower part  104  each comprise a threaded bore  106  for receiving a bolt (not shown) to affix the upper part  102  to the cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) and the lower part  104  to the slide or rail system  12  or a base that is slidably mounted to the rail or slide system  12 . Further, one or more convex caps  108  (e.g., protruding circular bumps) are provided on the shoulder of the cupped surface of the lower part  104  to facilitate the ease of pivotable adjustments. 
     Further suitable pivot components  100  for use in association with the guide dresser of the present disclosure may include a two-part pivotable block component, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,199,320 and 10,267,450. 
     An exemplary two-part pivotable block component  110  that may be used in association with the cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) of the present disclosure is shown in  FIG.  7   . The two-part block component  110  comprises an upper block  112  and a lower block  114 . The upper block  112  may be provided with threaded bores  111   a  aligned with bores  113   a  for receiving and engaging aligning bolts (not shown). Alternatively, the lower block may be provided with threaded bores for engaging aligning bolts inserted through bores provided therefore in the upper block. 
     The upper block  112  may be provided with a bore AA for receiving therethrough a post extending downward from the cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ). The upper block  112  has an outwardly inclined downward extending shoulder BB in the form of a frustoconical surface having a plane relative to a horizontal plane, selected from a range of between about 5° to about 75°, and more particularly between about 10° to about 45°. An exemplary suitable plane is about 10°, about 12.5°, about 15°, about 17.5°, about 20°, about 22.5°, about 25°, about 27.5°, about 30°, about 32.5°, about 35°, about 37.5°, about 40°, about 42.5°, about 45°, about 47.5°, or about 50°. 
     The lower block  114  may be provided with a bore CC that has a larger diameter than bore AA provided in upper block  112 . It is preferable that the diameter of bore CC provides a gap between the lower block  114  and a post extending therethrough, for example a gap of about 2 mm, about 3 mm, about 4 mm, about 5 mm, about 6 mm, about 7 mm, about 8 mm, about 9 mm, about 10 mm, or anywhere therebetween. The lower block  114  has an inwardly receding inclined shoulder DD in the form of a frustoconical surface having a plane relative to the plane of the outwardly extending shoulder BB, that is offset to the plane of AA for example by about 0.25°, about 0.50°, about 0.75°, about 1.0°, about 1.25°, about 1.5°, about 1.75°, about 2.0°, about 2.25°, about 2.5°, about 2.75°, about 3.0°, about 3.5°, about 4.0°, about 4.5°, or about 5.0°. The offset in the planes between the outwardly inclined shoulder BB of upper block  112  and the inwardly receding inclined shoulder DD of lower block  114  enables precise pivotable adjustments of the cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) in a three-dimensional space, and thereby alignment of the cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ). If so desired, one or more convex caps  116  may be provided on the upper shoulder BB or the lower shoulder DD (as shown in  FIG.  7   ) to facilitate the ease of pivotable adjustments of the two-part block component  110 . It is optional and within the scope of the present disclosure to provide the lower block  114  with an outwardly inclined upward extending shoulder, and to provide the upper block  112  with the inwardly receding inclined shoulder. 
     In other embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method for milling a saw guide, the method comprising: moving a first cutter assembly  20  and a second cutter assembly  30  on a rail or slide system  12  to engage a first cutter head  22  of the first cutter assembly  20  and a second cutter head  32  of the second cutter assembly  30  against opposing sides of a stationary saw guide  50 ; and milling or machining the stationary saw guide  50 . 
     In an embodiment of the methods herein, the position of each cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) on the rail or slide system  12  is controlled with programmable controller, such as a programmable logic controller (PLC) and/or computer numerical control (CNC) programming. In an embodiment, the rail or slide system  12  comprises its own independent motor to drive movement of each cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ) on the rail or slide system  12 . The motor may, for example, be a servo motor. In an embodiment, the rail or slide system  12  comprises servo motor-controlled ball screw and linear bearings for programmable and repeatable positioning of each cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ). The rpm and spherical alignment of the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) may also be similarly control by automated processes. 
     In an embodiment of the methods disclosed herein, milling of a saw guide  50  using the movable cutter assemblies ( 20 ,  30 ) and the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) of the present disclosure is capable of cutting to high tolerances (e.g., cut to within 0.0005″). 
     In some embodiments of the guide dressers herein, milling or machining of the saw guide is an automated operation. Referring to  FIG.  8   , the guide dresser of the present disclosure may comprise one or more laser range finders  120 . The laser range finders  120  may be positioned and aligned in any suitable location on the guide dresser  10  to take a measurement of the saw guide  50  when it is positioned in the guide mount  40 . As used herein, by “measurement” it is intended to mean a measure of distance, angle, or any combination thereof. The laser range finders  120  function to allow the guide dresser  10  to automatically identify which saw guide  50  (e.g., type, size, material, etc.) has been inserted into the guide dresser  10 . In some embodiments, the laser range finder  120  may include additional analysis capabilities to obtain information regarding the saw guide  50 . For example, the laser range finder  120  may include an optical scanner or imaging device that is capable of reading information displayed on the side of the saw guide  50 , such as a bar code or QR code. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  8   , the guide dresser includes two of the laser range finders  120 . A first laser range finder  120  is positioned on the same side of the guide dresser  10  as the first cutter assembly  20  and a second laser range finder  120  is positioned on the same side of the guide dresser  10  as the second cutter assembly  30 . Each laser range finder  120  directs its beam  122  in the direction of the saw guide  50  to take a measurement. In the embodiment of  FIG.  8   , each of the laser range finders  120  is directed along the same horizontal plane as the other and positioned to take a measurement along the path of slidable movement of the respective cutter assembly ( 20 ,  30 ). As will be appreciated, this is an exemplary positioning of the laser range finders  120 . In other embodiments, one or each of the laser range finders  120  may be at a different horizontal plane and/or aligned to measure the saw guide  50  from a different angle. In addition, there may be more than one laser range finder  120  directing its beam  122  to a particular side of the saw guide  50 , such as one on a horizontal plane, one on an angle, one pointed at a different area or feature of the saw guide  50 , or any combination thereof. 
     The guide dresser  10  is capable of interpreting the measurement from each laser range finder  120  to automatically control the movement of the cutter assemblies ( 20 ,  30 ) to enable the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) to properly and accurately mill the saw guide  50 , including by slidable movement along the rail or slide system  12  and/or pivotal movement about the pivotal component. In some embodiments, subsequent to obtaining measurements from the laser range finders  120  the entire milling or machining process is automated. In other embodiments, there may be steps that are not automated. 
     In an embodiment, during an initial setup phase each saw guide  50  may be mounted in the guide dresser  10  and a measurement from each side of the guide taken using the laser range finders  120 . The measurement may be registered and stored in a database containing all other pertinent information about each saw guide (e.g., within PLC software), including for example laser range data, target size, number of Babbitt pads, and orientation of Babbitt pads (e.g., right or left). The initial setup phase may only be required once for each different type of saw guide  50  to create a stored database of saw guides  50 , and afterwards whenever the guide dresser  10  identifies a saw guide  50  of that type using the laser range finders  120 , automated operation can be performed without requiring further setup procedures. 
     For example, when in operation, a user may insert a saw guide  50  into the guide dresser  10  and select a protocol to identify the saw guide  50  (e.g., from a touchscreen). This command triggers the laser range finders  120  to take a measurement of the current saw guide  50  and compare the result (e.g., measurements) with the stored database of saw guides  50 . Once the saw guide  50  is identified, its identity may be confirmed by the user, or this step of confirmation may not be required. The guide dresser  10  uses the identity of the saw guide  50  to move the cutter assemblies (one or both) from the open position to the closed position to cut the saw guide  50 . This operation may be automatic, in whole or in part, based on results of the measurement of the laser range finders  120 . 
     In some embodiments, an initial setup phase is not required and the automated operation of cutting the saw guides  50  can be performed without having stored information on the saw guide  50 , based simply on the measurements taken by the laser range finders  120 . 
     Automated operation of the cutter assemblies ( 20 ,  30 ) based on the measurements from the laser range finders  120  can involve one or more functionalities to ensure proper and accurate cutting of the saw guide  50 . These functionalities may be achieved by controlling slidable movement along the rail or slide system  12  and/or pivotal movement about the pivotal component. These functionalities include, without limitation: ensuring the saw guide  50  is machined to the correct target size; identifying the number of Babbitt pads of the saw guide  50  and cutting appropriately, identifying which side of the saw guide  50  the Babbitt pads are on (if on only one side) and cutting appropriately, determining if the saw guide  50  is at an angle and making pivotal adjustments to the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) for appropriate cutting, or any combination thereof. 
     In an embodiment, and as shown in  FIG.  8   , the guide dresser may include a data analyzer  124 . The data analyzer  124  may be internal to or in a combined unit with one or more of the laser range finders  120  or may be an entirely separate unit on the guide dresser  10 . In other embodiments, the data analyzer  124  may be located remotely from the guide dresser  10  and may communicate with the laser range finders  120  either by wired or wireless means. When equipped, the data analyzer  124  can provide various functions such as receiving the measurements from the laser range finders  120 , identifying the type of saw guide  50  from the measurements, such as by comparing the measurements to the stored data, controlling the automated operation of the guide dresser  10 , or any combination thereof. In order to identify the type of saw guide  50  from the measurements, the data analyzer may include or communicate with a database containing the stored information about one or more different types of the saw guide  50 . This database may contain any number or quantity of stored pieces of information relating to saw guides  50 , including without limitation laser range data, milling target size, number of Babbitt pads, orientation of the Babbitt pads, milling parameters, and milling thresholds. The data analyzer  124  may include a programmable logic controller (PLC). 
     In relation to embodiments in which the guide dresser  10  includes one or more laser range finders  120 , as shown in  FIG.  9    the present disclosure further provides a method for automated milling of a saw guide  50 , the method comprising: providing a saw guide  50  to the guide mount  40  of the guide dresser  10  ( 130 ); activating the one or more laser range finders  120  to acquire measurements of the saw guide  50  ( 140 ); triggering automated operation of the guide dresser  10  to move the first cutter assembly  20  and the second cutter assembly  30  on the rail or slide system  12  to engage the first cutter head  22  of the first cutter assembly  20  and the second cutter head  32  of the second cutter assembly  30  against opposing sides of the saw guide  50  ( 150 ); and milling or machining the saw guide  50  to provide a milled saw guide  50  ( 160 ). 
     In an embodiment, the step of activating the one or more laser range finders  120  to acquire measurements of the saw guide  50  comprises two laser range finders  120  each acquiring the measurement from an opposite side of the saw guide  50 . As discussed elsewhere herein, the laser range finders  120  may be positioned at any suitable position and at any trajectory to the saw guide  50 . In an embodiment, the two laser range finders  120  are on the same horizontal plane and the beam  122  follows the path along the rail or slide system  12 . 
     In an embodiment, the step of triggering automated operation of the guide dresser  10  comprises a step of comparing the measurements acquired by the one or more laser range finders  120  to stored information relating to laser range data, milling target size, number of Babbitt pads, orientation of the Babbitt pads, milling parameters, and milling thresholds for one or more different types of saw guides. As discussed elsewhere herein, the stored information may be based on an initial setup phase. Thus, in a further embodiment, the methods herein include a further step of performing an initial setup phase or initialization procedure to correspond measurements for particular saw guides  50  to information relating to that type of saw guide  50 . The initialization procedure may include mounting different saw guides  50  to the guide mount  40 , obtaining measurements from each side for each of the saw guides  50  to provide the laser range data for each saw guide  50 ; correlating the measurements to a set of parameters for each saw guide  50  to provide a correlated dataset, and storing the correlated dataset as the stored information. 
     In an embodiment, the step of triggering automated operation of the guide dresser  10  comprises a step of activating automated operation of the guide dresser  10  based on an identity of the saw guide  50  determined by the step of comparing the measurements acquired by the one or more laser range finders  120  to the stored information. In an embodiment, a programmable logic controller (PLC) uses the stored information to ensure a correct target size of the saw guide is milled. 
     In an embodiment, the methods herein may further include a self-calibration procedure ( 170 ) of measuring the milled saw guide  50 ; calculating the difference between a target size and a milled size; and adjusting milling parameters for subsequent operation. In an embodiment, the subsequent operation is repeating steps  150  and  160 , after the measuring the milled saw guide  50  by repeating step  140 . 
     In an embodiment of the methods herein, the entirety of the method, subsequent to providing the saw guide to the guide mount ( 130 ), is automated. In other embodiments, the method is partly automated. For example, in some embodiments, after step  160  when the milled saw guide  50  is provided, the user may be prompted to manually input the measurement of the milled saw guide  50  into the guide dresser  10  (e.g., into the PLC control). The guide dresser  10  can then use that input to calculate the difference between the target size and the actual measurement and adjust accordingly for the repeated milling step, which the user may manually initiate. 
     Advantageously, the guide dresser  10  and methods herein allow a user to put in at random any saw guide  50  that has been registered in the guide dresser  10  and repeat the milling process without needing to recalibrate the guide dresser  50  during saw guide  50  style changes. 
     In other embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a kit comprising one or more components of the cutter heads ( 22 ,  32 ) described herein. For example, in an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a kit comprising a circular disc  60  for use as a cutter head ( 22 ,  32 ), and one or more removable knife retention apparatuses  70  as disclosed herein. The kit may further comprise one or more knives  80  for mounting in each of the removable knife retention apparatuses  70 . In another embodiment, the kit may comprise a circular disc  90  having two or more grooves  92  on a face thereof for use as a cutter head, and two or more cutting implements  94 . 
     Exemplary Embodiments 
     In exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, the present disclosure relates to the following: 
     (1) A guide dresser for milling a saw guide, the guide dresser comprising: a rail or slide system; a first cutter assembly slidably mounted on the rail or slide system, the first cutter assembly having a first rotatable cutter head; a second cutter assembly slidably mounted on the rail or slide system, the second cutter assembly having a second rotatable cutter head; and a guide mount for receiving and maintaining in a stationary position a saw guide, the stationary position being between the first rotatable cutter head and the second rotatable cutter head and the rail or slide system aligned for moving each of the first cutter assembly and second cutter assembly towards or away from the guide mount, the guide dresser being adjustable between an open position and a closed position by slidable movement of the first cutter assembly, the second cutter assembly, or both, wherein: when in the open position, both the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly are positioned away from the guide mount on the rail system, and when in the closed position, both the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly are positioned proximal to the guide mount on the rail system, such that both the first cutter head and second cutter head are capable of contacting the saw guide when it is received within the guide mount. 
     (2) The guide dresser of (1), wherein each of the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly comprise a motor to impart rotational movement to the first and second rotatable cutter head. 
     (3) The guide dresser of (1) or (2), wherein the first cutter assembly comprises a pivot component for adjusting alignment of the first cutter head. 
     (4) The guide dresser of (1) or (2), wherein each of the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly comprise a pivot component for independently adjusting alignment of the first cutter head and the second cutter head. 
     (5) The guide dresser of (3) or (4), wherein the pivot component is a two-part pivotable block component. 
     (6) The guide dresser of (5), wherein the two-part pivotable block component comprises an upper spherical plate and a lower spherical cup, the upper spherical plate pivotably and slidably engaged with the lower spherical cup. 
     (7) The guide dresser of (5), wherein the two-part pivotable block component comprises: an upper block that is engaged with the first cutter assembly or the second cutter assembly; and a lower block that is slidably mounted to the rail or slide system or, alternatively, is engaged with a base that is slidably mounted to the rail or slide system, wherein the upper block has a first inclined surface in a first plane for pivotably and slidably engaging a second inclined surface in a second plane provided on the lower block, and wherein: the first inclined surface in the first plane is at an angle defined by a first angle from a horizontal plant; the second inclined surface in the second plane is at an angle defined by a second angle from the horizontal plane; and the first angle and the second angle are different angles. 
     (8) The guide dresser of (7), wherein the first inclined surface of the upper block is outwardly extending, and the second inclined surface of the lower block is inwardly receding. 
     (9) The guide dresser of (7), wherein the first inclined surface of the upper block is inwardly receding, and the second inclined surface of the lower block is outwardly extending. 
     (10) The guide dresser of any one of (7) to (9), wherein one or both of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface is provided with at least one convex cap extending outward therefrom. 
     (11) The guide dresser of any one of (7) to (10), wherein the second inclined surface is offset from the first inclined surface by about 0.25° to about 5.0°. 
     (12) The guide dresser of (5), wherein the two-part pivotable block component comprises: an upper block that is engaged with the first cutter assembly or the second cutter assembly; and a lower block that is slidably mounted to the rail or slide system or is engaged with a base that is slidably mounted to the rail or slide system wherein the upper block has a first frustoconical surface for pivotably engaging a second frustoconical surface provided therefor on the lower block, and wherein one or both of the first frustoconical surface and the second frustoconical surface has at least one convex cap extending outwardly therefrom for facilitating pivotable adjustment of the two-part block component. 
     (13) The guide dresser of (12), wherein the first frustoconical surface of the upper block is outwardly extending and the second frustoconical surface of the lower block is inwardly receding. 
     (14) The guide dresser of (12), wherein the first frustoconical surface of the upper block is inwardly receding and the second frustoconical surface of the lower block is outwardly extending. 
     (15) The guide dresser of any one of (3) to (14), wherein, when in operation and the vertical positioning of the saw guide is skewed from a vertical direction, the pivot component aligns the first and second rotatable cutter heads. 
     (16) The guide dresser of any one of (1) to (15), wherein the rail or slide system comprises a single continuous rail or slide component having both the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly slidably mounted thereon. 
     (17) The guide dresser of any one of (1) to (15), wherein the rail or slide system comprises: a first rail or slide apparatus having the first cutter assembly slidably mounted thereon; and a second rail or slide apparatus having the second cutter assembly slidably mounted thereon. 
     (18) The guide dresser of any one of (1) to (17), which comprises a servo motor-controlled ball screw for modulating slidable movement of the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly along the rail or slide system. 
     (19) The guide dresser of any one of (1) to (18), wherein in operation the saw guide remains in the stationary position and the first and second cutter heads are fed into the saw guide by slidable movement of the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly towards the guide mount using automated and/or programmable CNC controls. 
     (20) The guide dresser of any one of (1) to (19), wherein each of the first cutter head and the second cutter head is a circular disc comprising one or more knives projecting from a side of the circular disc. 
     (21) The guide dresser of (20), wherein the circular disc comprises a knife retention apparatus for holding each of the one or more knives in place. 
     (22) The guide dresser of (21), wherein the knife retention apparatus comprises a knife holder, a knife gib, a knife gib screw, and a knife clamp. 
     (23) The guide dresser of any one of (20) to (22), wherein the circular disc comprises three knives projecting from the side. 
     (24) The guide dresser of any one of (1) to (19), wherein each of the first cutter head and the second cutter head is a circular disc comprising two or more grooves on a side of the circular disc into which two or more cutting implements are mounted. 
     (25) The guide dresser of (24), wherein the two or more cutting implements are comprised of carbide. 
     (26) The guide dresser of (24) or (25), wherein the two or more cutting implements in each groove of the two or more grooves are offset from the center of the circular disc by a different distance along the radially extending wall as compared to the two or more cutting implements in the other grooves. 
     (27) The guide dresser of (26), wherein upon rotational movement of the circular disc, the two or more cutting implements in each groove of the two or more grooves cuts a different circular area than the two or more cutting implements in the other grooves. 
     (28) A method for milling a saw guide, the method comprising: moving a first cutter assembly and a second cutter assembly on a rail or slide system to engage a first cutter head of the first cutter assembly and a second cutter head of the second cutter assembly against opposing sides of a stationary saw guide; and milling or machining the stationary saw guide. 
     (29) The method of (28), wherein moving the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly is by an automated process. 
     (30) The method of (29), wherein the automated process comprises programmable CNC controls. 
     (31) The method of any of (28) to (30), wherein the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly are as defined in any one of (1) to (27). 
     (32) A cutter head, the cutter head comprising a circular disc and one or more removable knife retention apparatuses, each of the one or more removable knife retention apparatuses for receiving a knife. 
     (33) The cutter head of (32), wherein each of the one of more removable knife retention apparatuses comprises a knife holder, a knife gib, a knife clamp, and one or more knife gib screws. 
     (34) The cutter head of (33), wherein each of the knife holder and the knife clamp are an elongate shape configured to substantially span a radius of the circular disc when mounted on the circular disc. 
     (35) The cutter head of (34), wherein each of the knife holder and the knife clamp comprise one or more mounting apertures, each of the one or more mounting apertures for receiving a pin protruding from the circular disc. 
     (36) The cutter head of (34) or (35), wherein the knife gib is of the elongate shape configured to substantially span the radius of the circular disc when mounted on the circular disc, and the knife gib and the knife clamp have corresponding notches for receiving a portion of the knife gib screw. 
     (37) The cutter head of any one of (33) to (36), wherein, when the removable knife retention apparatus is assembled on the circular disc to receive the knife, the knife is positioned between the knife holder and the knife gib to project a blade of the knife outwardly therefrom, and the knife is held in position by a force applied to the knife by the knife gib, the force exerted and maintained by the knife screw. 
     (38) The cutter head of any one of (32) to (37), comprising at least three of the one or more removable knife retention apparatuses mounted on the circular disc, each of the one or more removable knife retention apparatuses having the knife received therein. 
     (39) A cutter head, the cutter head comprising a circular disc having two or more grooves on a face thereof, each groove of the two or more grooves for receiving two or more cutting implements. 
     (40) The cutter head of (39), wherein each groove of the two or more grooves is an elongate shape configured to substantially span a radius of the circular disc. 
     (41) The cutter head of (39) or (40), comprising at least three of the two or more grooves. 
     (42) The cutter head of any one of (39) to (41), wherein, when received in the two or more grooves, each of the two or more cutting implements are substantially equally spaced from each other along a radially extending wall within each groove of the two or more grooves. 
     (43) The cutter head of (42), wherein, when received in the two or more grooves, the two or more cutting implements in each groove of the two or more grooves are offset from the center of the circular disc by a different distance along the radially extending wall as compared to the two or more cutting implements in the other grooves. 
     (44) The cutter head of (43), wherein, when in operation in a circular rotation, the two or more cutting implements in each groove of the two or more grooves cuts a different circular area than the two or more cutting implements in the other grooves. 
     (45) The cutter head of (44), wherein, when in operation in the circular rotation, the different circular area cut by the two or more cutting implements in each groove overlaps with a portion of the different circular area cut by the two or more cutting implements in at least one of the other grooves. 
     (46) The cutter head of any one of (39) to (45), wherein the two or more cutting implements are comprised of carbide. 
     (47) The cutter head of any one of (39) to (46), wherein the two or more cutting implements are secured to the cutter head by a screw or a clamp. 
     (48) A guide dresser for milling a saw guide, the guide dresser comprising: a rail or slide system; a first cutter assembly slidably mounted on the rail or slide system, the first cutter assembly having a first rotatable cutter head; a second cutter assembly slidably mounted on the rail or slide system, the second cutter assembly having a second rotatable cutter head; a guide mount for receiving and maintaining in a stationary position a saw guide, the stationary position being between the first rotatable cutter head and the second rotatable cutter head and the rail or slide system aligned for moving each of the first cutter assembly and second cutter assembly towards or away from the guide mount, and one or more laser range finders positioned and aligned to take a measurement of the saw guide when the saw guide is positioned in the guide mount, the guide dresser being automatically adjustable between an open position and a closed position by slidable movement of the first cutter assembly, the second cutter assembly, or both, wherein: when in the open position, both the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly are positioned away from the guide mount on the rail system, and when in the closed position, both the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly are positioned proximal to the guide mount on the rail system, such that both the first cutter head and second cutter head are capable of contacting the saw guide when it is received within the guide mount, wherein the slidable movement between the open position and the closed position is in whole or in part an automatic operation based on results of the measurement of the one or more laser range finders. 
     (49) The guide dresser of (48), wherein the slidable movement between the open position and the closed position is in whole controlled by the automatic operation. 
     (50) The guide dresser of (48) or (49), wherein each of the one or more laser range finders is aligned to measure the saw guide from a different angle. 
     (51) The guide dresser of any one of (48) to (50), wherein the one or more laser range finders comprise: a first laser range finder positioned on the same side of the guide dresser as the first cutter assembly, and positioned and aligned to take the measurement along the path of slidable movement of the first cutter assembly; and a second laser range finder positioned on the same side of the guide dresser as the second cutter assembly, and positioned and aligned to take the measurement along the path of slidable movement of the second cutter assembly. 
     (52) The guide dresser of any one of (48) to (51), further comprising a data analyzer for receiving the measurement and controlling the automatic operation. 
     (53) The guide dresser of (52), wherein the data analyzer identifies the type of the saw guide from the measurement of the one or more laser range finders. 
     (54) The guide dresser of (52) or (53), wherein the data analyzer comprises or communicates with a database containing stored information about one or more different types of the saw guide. 
     (55) The guide dresser of (54), wherein the database comprises stored information relating to laser range data, milling target size, number of Babbitt pads, orientation of the Babbitt pads, milling parameters, and milling thresholds for each of the one or more different types of the saw guide. 
     (56) The guide dresser of any one of (48) to (55), which comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC). 
     (57) The guide dresser of any one of (48) to (56), wherein the automatic operation comprises one or both of (i) slidable movement of the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly on the rail or slide system and (ii) pivotal movement of the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly about a pivot component. 
     (58) The guide dresser of (57), wherein the pivotal component is a two-part pivotable block component comprising an upper spherical plate and a lower spherical cup, the upper spherical plate pivotably and slidably engaged with the lower spherical cup. 
     (59) The guide dresser of (57) or (58), wherein, when in operation and the vertical positioning of the saw guide is skewed from a vertical direction, the pivot component automatically aligns the first and second rotatable cutter heads based on the measurement from the one or more laser range finders. 
     (60) A method for automated milling of a saw guide, the method comprising: providing a saw guide to the guide mount of the guide dresser of any one of (48) to (59); activating the one or more laser range finders to acquire measurements of the saw guide; triggering automated operation of the guide dresser to move the first cutter assembly and the second cutter assembly on the rail or slide system to engage the first cutter head of the first cutter assembly and the second cutter head of the second cutter assembly against opposing sides of the saw guide; and milling or machining the saw guide to provide a milled saw guide. 
     (61) The method of (60), wherein the step of activating the one or more laser range finders to acquire measurements of the saw guide comprises two laser range finders each acquiring the measurement from an opposite side of the saw guide. 
     (62) The method of (60) or (61), wherein the step of triggering automated operation of the guide dresser comprises a step of comparing the measurements acquired by the one or more laser range finders to stored information relating to laser range data, milling target size, number of Babbitt pads, orientation of the Babbitt pads, milling parameters, and milling thresholds for one or more different types of saw guides. 
     (63) The method of (62), wherein the stored information was previously obtained and stored in a database during an initialization procedure, the initialization procedure comprising: mounting different saw guides to the guide mount, obtaining measurements from each side for each of the saw guides to provide the laser range data for each saw guide; correlating the measurements to a set of parameters for each saw guide to provide a correlated dataset, and storing the correlated dataset as the stored information. 
     (64) The method of (62) or (63), wherein the step of triggering automated operation of the guide dresser comprises a step of activating automated operation of the guide dresser based on an identity of the saw guide determined by the step of comparing the measurements acquired by the one or more laser range finders to the stored information. 
     (65) The method of any one of (62) to (64), wherein a programmable logic controller (PLC) uses the stored information to ensure a correct target size of the saw guide is milled. 
     (66) The method of any one of (60) to (65), further comprising a self-calibration procedure of measuring the milled saw guide; calculating the difference between a target size and a milled size; and adjusting milling parameters for subsequent operation. 
     (67) The method of any one of (60) to (66), wherein the entirety of the method, subsequent to providing the saw guide to the guide mount, is automated. 
     In the present disclosure, all terms referred to in singular form are meant to encompass plural forms of the same. Likewise, all terms referred to in plural form are meant to encompass singular forms of the same. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. 
     As used herein, the term “about” refers to an approximately +/−10% variation from a given value. It is to be understood that such a variation is always included in any given value provided herein, whether or not it is specifically referred to. 
     It should be understood that the compositions and methods are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the compositions and methods can also “consist essentially of or “consist of the various components and steps. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the elements that it introduces. 
     For the sake of brevity, only certain ranges are explicitly disclosed herein. However, ranges from any lower limit may be combined with any upper limit to recite a range not explicitly recited, as well as ranges from any lower limit may be combined with any other lower limit to recite a range not explicitly recited, in the same way, ranges from any upper limit may be combined with any other upper limit to recite a range not explicitly recited. Additionally, whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within the range are specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values even if not explicitly recited. Thus, every point or individual value may serve as its own lower or upper limit combined with any other point or individual value or any other lower or upper limit, to recite a range not explicitly recited. 
     Therefore, the present disclosure is well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the present disclosure may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Although individual embodiments are dis-cussed, the disclosure covers all combinations of all those embodiments. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent(s) or other documents that may be referenced herein, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted. 
     Many obvious variations of the embodiments set out herein will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure. Such obvious variations are within the full intended scope of the appended claims.