Haas Mini Mill

[maestro]

Anyone out there using a Haas Mini Mill. If so, what are your opinions of it. I have a small business that I run in my spare time making parts for RC cars that is starting to kind of take off and am looking to replace my ageing Hurco KMB1 with something a little more productive.

[Kannon]

mornin Maestro.. I did a quick search using mini mill for the search and there are quit a few here that use them.

 

some users

 

by the way... I think making RC replacement parts is only going to get busier. It has really become popular here in my area.

Good luck!

[Lars Christensen]

I like it, it is a nice "Mini" machine. Ours are around 5 years old, it got a 6000 rpm spindle on it, I have been cutting everything from D2, Aluminium and plastic on this thing. It is not very rigid, with a 5hp motor on it you are pretty limited to heavy cuts, but you will be just fine using 1/2 carbide endmill in steel.

2 things to keep in mind on this machine, you have a limited length on your tools, because of the toolchanger, and the spindle is cooled by your coolant passing by, what means if you have to do any dry machining, you have to have your coolant curcualting.

 

HTH

Lars

(Sorry about bad spelling)

[maestro]

Thanks guys. You can check out some of my stuff at www.teamtamale.com.

[Lars Christensen]

Cool site maestro, Wants me to start a new hobbie.

I think you would like the Haas for that type of parts.

 

Lars

[Kannon]

Nice website..

you better kick it in the a*s... I see this under quit a few pictures in the purchase products tab

Temporarily Out of Stock

[Metalmuncher]

Nice website. You may want think about the higher rpm spindle and the programable coolant options

[maestro]

Thanks for the compliments guys. Working a regular programming job for a small aerospace shop and then go home and work makes for long day sometimes. This machine would greatly increase my capacity and productivity over my present Hurco KMB1 knee mill with a manual toolchanger. Plus eliminate a lot of the mess on the floor.

[TR Mfg.]

Nice looking website and parts. Given the small size of your parts I would think the mini mill would work well for you. You can find them on the used market and save some $$ if you don’t mind a used machine.

[maestro]

Thanks,TR. I have not had much luck finding a used one. Could you point me in the right direction?

[Thee Dragracer1951]

Used Haas Mini mills are quite rare and usually command high prices for a 5 or 6 year old machine.. they are going for about 23 to 25K and you can buy a new one for 30k

I have a 2000 with about 4k hours (I think) on it now. I paid 24 for it a year ago. It has just kept on makeing me money

I just bought a Sharp 2412s yesterday with a 10k spindle, Fanuc 0im control and a bunch of extras. You may want to look at that as well.

[maestro]

I received an email from someone about the Fanuc robodrill. Not to bad for the price . There really are too many choices out there. Lots of competitive prices.

[TR Mfg.]

I'll see if I can find you some links, we found a few when we were looking for a lathe... Like Jim said, they don't go cheap. the Hurco VM1 would be a machine to look at also, they have a bit more Z travel, but think they are more money. Our local rep quoted us around $48k, but that was with some options.

[Chris Rizzo]

For the past 5 or 6 years, it seems like Haas mini mills have been the de-facto standard for small affordable machines. I've had good experience with them. A few shortcomings, but for 30k they get the job done. HOWEVER I have noticed alot more machines that size and price on the market these days, with ALOT better specs on paper. (that Sharp in particular) I would take a trip to IMTS this september and really check the current market out.

 

p.s. The Haas mini-mill is the only haas product that I have had good experience with.

[PGW Steve]

A lot of people like to bash Haas products but I have had excellent luck with them. I'm always trying to figure out how I can put a minimill in the shop for doing secondary ops and small stuff, instead of tying up a large vertical.

[Guest]

quote:

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have had excellent luck with them.

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You just said it Steve, luck.

 

 

You've been lucky

 

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

When programming for these machines... think gutless. LOW HP so if you go light and fast you're better of. Large diameter tools are going to be a byotch so if you can, forget about using them. You can easily stall one of these bad boys with a 3/8 EM.

 

JM2C

[#Rekd™]

Hi Maestro,

 

I do not think that you can compare a Haas Mini-Mill with a Fanuc Robo drill. The Robo drill is about twice the price and more than twice the machine. Fanuc control, Fanuc drives etc.

 

Your website looks great! Nice looking parts!

 

John Ford

[DC Gorn]

Something to think about. The Haas mini Mill can be a 4 or even 5 axis machine. If you add a HA5C indexer these things become huge money makers. This indexer is designed to receive a chuck and fixtures can be mounted in its place. True 4 axis for under $60,000 is tuff to beat.

 

Look at the Super Mini Mill the 10,000 RPM spindle will be worth it on your parts.

[John13]

I run 2 and have never had any machine problems, just operator(me) errors twice. For what you want to do, I think it'd work great. Some advice though, get the programmable coolant and the clear cover definitely. The first machine we got didn't have either and you have to adjust your coolant for each tool at toolchanges. The cover helps keep the coolant in the machine instead of spraying the floor, of course properly positioned coolant nozzels do this to, but I like to set the coolant in a neutral postion so I wasn't changing it all the time.

[Thee Dragracer1951]

quote:

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Something to think about. The Haas mini Mill can be a 4 or even 5 axis machine. If you add a HA5C indexer these things become huge money makers. This indexer is designed to receive a chuck and fixtures can be mounted in its place. True 4 axis for under $60,000 is tuff to beat.

 

Look at the Super Mini Mill the 10,000 RPM spindle will be worth it on your parts.

---

I just bought a 2412s Sharp

Fanuc OiM control, wired for a fourth, 16 tools, bigger travels and box ways, 10k spindle with a chiller, 120 blocks of look ahead, chip conveyer, for $55k delivered on my floor. That's shipping, and rigging. Everything.

I have a 4th for the machine already, so that saved me some money. More power, (not a lot) more travel, more tools, and more rigidity for less money

And the best thing is...I don't have to talk to Selway

[Fred @ Slate Industries]

Hurcos controller will be switching

To a Windows interface in the future.

just like MCX.

[Chris Rizzo]

quote:

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And the best thing is...I don't have to talk to Selway

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[Kevangel]

I would also check out Milltronics, they have a small boxway with toolchanger for around 36,900, my landlord here at shop bought 4 of them in last year.

[mike561h]

Great machine for aluminum and plastic.

I would not recommend using strickly for steel.

not enough horse power and the machine will not last has long

 

my 2 cents