I just bought s Sharp 2412s Super Mini with a Fanuc 0iMc control with AI contouring and AI NANO Bought it with a Tsudakoma full fourth as well.
I've been using this machine to make heat exchangers from 316 stainless. This thing really is impressive for being a little machine.

I'm thinking of getting this machine instead of a Haas...

We have a Sharp SV-2412, not the super, and are very pleased with it. The super bumps the RPM up from 8000 to 10,000. The super also has a 12,000 rpm and spindle option, and a 10hp spindle, vs. 7.5hp. You also get a 16 tool capacity ATC vs. 10 tools, although I think the maximum tool diameter, for face mill and such is reduced.

The service from Sharp has been excellent, then sent a tech all the way to Houston, from California to set up our mill and get everything running properly. We have only had one issue due to my own fault, (bumped a tool holder down into some aluminum) that knocked the Z home position out. One call to Sharp, and they stepped us through resetting home and all was well again.

One other good thing about the Sharp mini mill's is that they use box-way construction. This really makes difference when taking heavy cuts. Linear ways are awesome for high speed CNC's, because of linear bearings, but box ways offer a definite advantage in absorbing vibration.

In favor of the Hass, if you use very small tooling, and need the high RPM, the Hass makes more sense, other than that the Sharp out classes the Hass mini mill in power, travel, mass, rigidity, cost, and a Fanuc control is the best around (in our opinion). (Rigid tapping is even standard on a Sharp, but optional on a Hass. $$$)

The main reason I am thinking of getting this machine is that its max height is 92 inches. My garage's floor to ceiling height is around 99.5 inches. Per my conversation w/ PBMW, the machine should fit w/ some inches to spare.
Yeah the machine uses a FANUC controller (I used a Haas previously), but I plan to use a CAM package...

Pbmw,
have you been playing with the g5/g8 combo? Tried it but I dont think i was doing it right....

I normaly use G8 P1 after the G43 to turn on length comp.
Turn off with G8 P0 just after the final retract line in your toolpath. Where it goes to Z.25. I use it on profiles and 3d moves. I have been playing with G5.1 P1 as well and will get back (I need to go look at a couple programs) about how to implement both G8 and G5.1 together

Is this something that you have to manually program, or does it come out in your Mastercam Post?

You can modify your post to use the misc intgr to turn on and off either one. Just be sure to back up your post first of course...

Has anyone found the standard coolant pump "lacking" in the standard setup and found it necessary to upgrade the pump?

The coolant pump that came on my impresses me, plenty for the tools and I have the chip wash up pretty high as well.

I am not familiar with the standard pump. I ordered mine with the next more powerfull pump. It works VERY well.

PBMW have you ran one of the new Haas Super mini mills by specs it blows the sharp away other than the travel, just comparing im not in the market at the moment just doing some reserch

Yes I have. I own a regular mini as well. The Sharp will out cut the haas anywhere. No kidding.
I'm not bashing Haas at all. They are a great bang for the buck.
I own two of them.
But the Sharp will eat the Haas up. I do some parts from alum. 3" tall. 20" x 3". Profiling these (they wind up looking like a banana) 3/4 carbide 3 flute em. 2 1/2 loc. .400 deep and .700 radial depth of cut. 10,000 rpm and 250 IPM. Runs fine. My Haas won't run that kind of chip load. I have a friend with a VF2ss that can't make that cut. I screwed up the Z offset one day and went .800 depth of cut. Ran fine. No kidding.

I make heat exchangers from 316 stainless and put a bunch of pockets in the head plates and return plares. 3/4 inch deep. I tried putting that job on my Haas. Made one heck of a racket and busted tools. Put it back on the Sharp. The Sharp weighs twice what the Haas weighs. it has box ways, the only place the Haas is "better" is it has a 15k spindle but the power ratings by Haas are at 200%. That makes it a 7 1/2hp machine.
I was REALLY surprised to see as much difference in performance as I did.

I do some little parts from 1018. out of a little blank that is .75 tall, 1 x 1.5
Part is 1.2 long by about .7 wide and .58 tall finished. I profile it 5/8 depth of cut 8500 rpm and 75ipm. one pass to rough and one pass at finish.
I think I can speed it up a bit. But then my operators will snivel...

Yes I have. I own a regular mini as well. The Sharp will out cut the haas anywhere. No kidding.
I'm not bashing Haas at all. They are a great bang for the buck.
I own two of them.
But the Sharp will eat the Haas up. I do some parts from alum. 3" tall. 20" x 3". Profiling these (they wind up looking like a banana) 3/4 carbide 3 flute em. 2 1/2 loc. .400 deep and .700 radial depth of cut. 10,000 rpm and 250 IPM. Runs fine. My Haas won't run that kind of chip load. I have a friend with a VF2ss that can't make that cut. I screwed up the Z offset one day and went .800 depth of cut. Ran fine. No kidding.

I make heat exchangers from 316 stainless and put a bunch of pockets in the head plates and return plares. 3/4 inch deep. I tried putting that job on my Haas. Made one heck of a racket and busted tools. Put it back on the Sharp. The Sharp weighs twice what the Haas weighs. it has box ways, the only place the Haas is "better" is it has a 15k spindle but the power ratings by Haas are at 200%. That makes it a 7 1/2hp machine.
I was REALLY surprised to see as much difference in performance as I did.

I do some little parts from 1018. out of a little blank that is .75 tall, 1 x 1.5
Part is 1.2 long by about .7 wide and .58 tall finished. I profile it 5/8 depth of cut 8500 rpm and 75ipm. one pass to rough and one pass at finish.
I think I can speed it up a bit. But then my operators will snivel...

WOW!! Thats pretty good i have been looking into the sharps since i haerd about them a while back, what was the price diferents between the 2 if you dont mind me asking

I'm not real sure. I think the base price on a Haas is 42k The base price on the Sharp is 38k I think. I'll tsll you what "I" bought.
Mine is a 2412s and I upgraded the control from a 0iMate to a 0iMc in order to be able to use a fourth axis. Mine has 120 blocks of look ahead and AI nano nad AI contouring. rigid tap, macros, some extra M codes, graphics, Manual guide (that's Fanuc speak for conversational programming...I don't use it) I got it prewired for a fourth and also got the servos fot the fourth. Upgraded teh coolant pump and bought a chip conveyer, Mine was also purchased with a 10hp Phase Perfect. Delivered onto my shop floor was $57k
I had looked into a Super mini as well and the Sharp came in just right in the same ballpark. Comparably equiped. The Fanuc only has 250k of memory but you can use a PCMCIA adaptor to use 512 MEG memory chips and run off the memory card. I have done molds that were 50 meg programs. Runs fine.
The Haas only has an option for an auger type conveyer. The Sharp has a flat conveyer. My SL10 has an Auger.... What a piece of... Well suffice it to say I don't like untangleing chips from the auger.
Here's the bottom line. If I had thought the Haas was the better machine, I would have bought it. I am quite happy with my choice.
Would I buy another? Yes. If I need another machine in this size class. Box way machines are pretty amazing. Different machining stratagy from a linear way machine.

Thanks for the info. i have 1 Haas mini and 2 VF-2, and a mori MV-40 i use the VF-2's for nothing but drilling brass and alum. the mini does all my small parts and my Mori does all hogging but if i decide to buy another i am realy concedering the sharp

I was really close to getting a Haas... but a breakdown on a shop location made me look for something I could put into my garage. Spoke w/ PBMW, and read alot of posts... and I'm going to get a Sharp 2412S.
The Sharp has a max op. height of 92". The capabilities look better than the Haas Super Mini Mill.
I'm looking to be around $60K + tools + MasterCam + supporting equipment. I'll let you guys know next week when I have the order in and the money paid.
TKBuisan

Just got the thing cutting air yesterday....
2005 2412S with the MC control.
I've been hands off of this stuff for about 15 years but I'm thinking it'll come back to me in time. Deffinately rusty though. Anyone have a post for Mastercam X they'd be willing to part with ?

Nolan

Drop me an email...I have one.

Haas machines are very user friendly, but linear ball slides don't dampen heavy cuts like box ways. If your pricing around remember that the low price Haas is with out anything. (chip gaurds, chip pan, tool cahnger etc.)

I'm finally in the final stages of getting my machine. The last minute details are getting worked out/verified. A question for those 2412S users: Does the AI-NANO work with OI-MC controller? Or does one need the 18?

I bought the HSM option with my 0iMc control. That is the AI Nano you refer to. I am sure it is also available on the 18i control but when I bought my machine last Sept (at least that's when I ordered it) you could not have an 18i on a 2412s. I do not know about now though.
I would certainly get the HSM option.

I do want the HSM(AI-NANO) but I do not want to pay $17K for an 18i Controller to get it. Thanks for the info Jim.

If you go with the OI-MC you can get the Nano without having to pay 17k.
More like 6-7k, IIRC.

No, I think it was more like $1400.

I was thinking of the control upgrade price, not the nano option, oops.

The AI-NANO upgrade is $5K.
Found out that the HOA will cause problems w/ the CNC in the garage. Will now look for light industrial location to put my machine. I am looking for a bigger machine (3020) w/ 20HP. Hope I can stay w/ Sharp as their team is pretty good.
TKBuisan

Well...That sucks.
Another quite nice machine that you may well want to have a look at would be a 3016 Daewoo. They make them in both Linear way versions and box way versions. 12k spindle, Big rapids nicer build quality and a h*ll for stout machine. I'm thinking of the box way 3016 myself. But I REALLY need to find a larger shop.

Sent a tech from Houston to California that is nice but what happens when it is down and they cannot "step you thru it on the phone" My spelled HAAS, went down due to a operator crash last Wed around 4pm called my local HFO and they had a Service Tech here at 8am the next morning. Yes there are some quirks but all machines have quirks. I love my Haas and love the service and support I get even better!

Well. I have two Haas machines. I am in the NW. That means I get to deal with Selway machine. They have screwed up SO many times I've lost count. Their level of service is, frankly, a joke.
They wanted to charge me over 6K to repair a crashed turret on my SL10. The first guy screwed up the assembly and only installed 2 balls in the cuvic coupler. Then they wanted to charge me for them to come make it right.
Sharp has overnighted parts on a loaner no problem. I can have my dealers guy here in an hour.
Much mo bettah service where I am than Haas. Much stronger machine as well
But, your service may be better than mine. And as I see it, service and after sale support is what makes or breaks a machine sale. For my shop, that excludes Haas. I just can't get those guys to even return a call. Heck...I have to throw a couple thousand dollars at the stinkin thing every two months.

I bought the HSM option with my 0iMc control. That is the AI Nano you refer to. I am sure it is also available on the 18i control but when I bought my machine last Sept (at least that's when I ordered it) you could not have an 18i on a 2412s. I do not know about now though.
I would certainly get the HSM option.

Friend of mine in Chicago bought a Sharp with the 18i control, and an arm type tool changer. I think Sharp will configure them anyway you want with in reason.

I've had mine for 4 years now with no problems.

Best,
Steve

Just ordered 2 - 2412 Supers with 4th axis setups, chip auger, auto doors, upgraded coolant pump, etc... We should have them on the floor by mid - October.

I speced these machined over Haas due to the fact they were box ways, had Fanuc controls, 2 year warranty and all the positive feedback I have read here on this forum. The Haas MiniMills are a much lighter, less rigid machine. We have about 4 of these installed and they are good for the particular applications they were purchased for, but my current application requires a heavier machine.

We cut lots of 4130 and 410 CRES. Once they are up and running, I will report back.

I think you'll like them. They hog steel like it ain't got no bizness

2412s are great machines. We have 2 on our floor and 3 on another floor. Good machines considering the materials we hog with it. We do alot of inconel, monel, incoloid, and titanium, and the machines have let us down. We just got a new Sharp on the floor, a SV4020, this past Tuesday. We are still working out a few kinks here and there, but compared to our Daewoos, this machine is a whole lot more user friendly.

What kind of Daewoos?
I have my eye on a 3016 box way Daewoo...

I am not sure of all the models right now. I am at home, but I will get you more informantion tomorrow. Our shop only has Sharps, but our front shop is more production and we are prototype. The Daewoos are great machines from what I hear and are good for high production.