I've had the SCM FS41 Elite in my shop for over a year now and am very happy with it. The Xylent cutterhead does a very nice job on figured cherry. My impression (based mostly on anecdotal comments) is that the Minimax is a step up from the Hammer: I think it would be more appropriate to compare the Minimax to the Felder line. I believe you will be getting a heavier duty machine with the SCM Minimax. I looked seriously at the equivalent Felder machine when I was making my decision: the games that Felder played with pricing pushed me over the edge toward the Minimax and I have no regrets.