Since 1996, Craig Guth has been using an ACU-RITE MILLPWR control in his home shop to make custom motorcycle parts, and he is still using that same unit today. Not only that, but his love of machining secured him a full-time job in 2003 at The Toro Company headquarters in Bloomington, Minn., where ACU-RITE controls are now widely used for prototyping.
Melding his love of art with the benefits that machining provides, Guth has created many unique and useful things over the last 25 years. Originally teaching himself to use an ACU-RITE MILLPWR CNC on a mill in his home shop, Guth has become a go-to source for inspirations of all kinds. His fully custom-made motorcycles lead the list of several head-turning projects.
After being hired by Toro to support its Product Development Lab (PDL), Guth’s love for machining was a huge benefit as he supported various R&D projects. Toro is a well-known provider of outdoor equipment, including turf and landscape, snow and ice management, specialty construction, and more.
It all began for Guth in 1994 when working for a local machine distributor. The company evaluated various equipment, before obtaining multiple easy-to-use ACU-RITE MILLPWR mill controls. From there, Guth purchased his own system. In addition to making molds for a local rubber company, he created custom motorcycle parts for sale, as well as for himself.
Guth’s home-based CNC Metalcraft business has produced many uniquely designed parts with the MILLPWR. His customized motorcycles include specially designed parts for the primary drive train (housing the clutch and suspension parts), front-end parts, triple trees, and wheels. “I consider myself an artist and enjoy creating beautiful things,” said Guth. “And I love working in the shop.”
Another unusual project from Guth’s past came about from being contracted by computer manufacturer AMD to develop a computer box that looked like aircraft landing gear. Guth used his shop MILLPWR to design the distinctive casing, which was showcased at a trade show exhibit and featured on the cover of a 2008 Computer Power User magazine.
One of the most complex machining projects Guth completed with the MILLPWR was in 2015 with the creation of his own large CNC wood router that is now part of his home shop. Measuring 60" × 50" (1,524 mm × 1,270 mm), the unit consists of extremely complex and intricate patented machined parts. “The MILLPWR is so perfectly accurate that I can use a machine to make another machine,” Guth enthused. “I can wholeheartedly say that the MILLPWR has changed my life.”
Guth shared that one of his most-used features on the MILLPWR continues to be the Geo-Calc, which is a design program incorporated directly in the control. “Back in the ’90s, I didn’t have access to Auto CAD or similar, and the Geo-Calc helped me to design and create my parts right on the machine. I’d type in the lines and create right on the monitor, so the MILLPWR did everything from the design to controlling the actual build of it. I was really impressed with that.”
Guth continued: “Also I find the Teach Position feature especially useful where I can map out an existing part on the MILLPWR and design myself a copy. For example, I can take a motorcycle part, map it out on the machine and make [something]similar. I’m basically reverse engineering. It’s fantastic!”
Upon joining Toro and its PDL in 2003, Guth found the company’s machining capabilities able to get most of the product prototyping jobs done but, he noted, the tools were somewhat cumbersome and outdated. Seeking opportunities to further improve on its processes and technologies, Toro’s PDL team now uses several ACU-RITE controls, mostly the new MILLPWRG2s, and a recently added ACU-RITE TURNPWR for lathes.
Local distributor C&C Machine Tool in Blaine, Minn., has and is continuing to provide support to Toro as needed. “We have done a lot of good work with Brent and Brian at C&C Machine,” said Guth.
Responsible for building product models, the team of 32 employees in the PDL are now more efficient and productive than ever. Besides machining, they also must deal with forming, welding, tube bending, assembling, and painting.
“The repeatability and part design of any of our machining is so much easier and faster now, and the MILLPWRs are an important part of that change,” said Guth. “I am now in a position to help teach many of our newer staff how to use them, and they are finding the MILLPWRs easy to use as well. Besides harnessing their power doing quick circles, rectangles, lines, arcs and hole making, our teams are using the Mirroring and Repeat options regularly.”
Guth added, “Bringing these MILLPWRs into Toro has made it so we don’t have to farm any machining projects out, as had to be done in past. This is both a time- and money-saver. And who wants to rely on outside sources nowadays.”
This article was developed in collaboration with Heidenhain Corp.
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