VF 4 - 4TH AXIS

[ErikVF4]

We have 2 vf4's - One of them has a full fourth installed and the other does not - Is it possible just to swap the card and cables from one machine to the other and have fourth work....

[Geof]

An activation code is needed to turn on the 4th axis after the hardware is installed.

Taking the hardware out of the machine with the 4th axis installed may not be a good idea. We had problems with a 4th axis and the hardware was replaced and it needed a new activation code.

If you remove the hardware you may not get it working in the other machine and it may not work when you re-install it in the original machine; until you pay a couple of grand for the code.

[chucker]

Some body else jump in and correct me if I am wrong but I think if is a haas 4th axis you can just change the setting on the other machine to enable the axis and tell the machine which model you have installed

[Geof]

Originally Posted by chucker Some body else jump in and correct me if I am wrong but I think if is a haas 4th axis you can just change the setting on the other machine to enable the axis and tell the machine which model you have installed

Now you have made me wonder if I am confusing things. Is an activation code needed or am I mistaken. I know you have to select the rotary table type in the Settings whenever you plug it in but I thought I remembered an additional step during installation.

[ErikVF4]

No activation code that I am aware of - See the problem I am having is that the machine that has the 4th is missing some other options that the new one has - Chip auger more memory and high speed machining - I have some jobs coming up that could really be improved with the 4th axis and lights out 10 - 15 hr runs ... Perhaps I should just call HAAS.... I am guessing they will want me to buy another 4th card . So thats the reason I stopped here first...

[Geof]

Do you already have the rotary table? Older rotaries were brush type but recently Haas discontinued them and only sells brushless. I got caught with an old rotary and a new machine and had to buy a converter box ($1000) to plug in my brush type rotary.

[ErikVF4]

The 4th is less than a yr old - Brushless. I have all the cables and the card is installed in one machine...

[awesome83]

It really depends on the age of the machine, the older models there was no code for the 4th axis. The newer models you do need a code. If you look thru your parameters on the machine and see any 4th axis enable bit. Then you will need a unlock code. Along with the hardware, ect (amp, wiring).

You do choose your 4th axis in the settings, each rotary has different parameters and choosing the correct one in the settings will load the correct parameters for that rotary. But, you must have the 4th axis enabled and the hardware (wiring, Amp) to use it.