I purchased a 2007 VF2 that doesn't have probing and I've been trying to find a way to add probing (spindle probe is the most important, but both would be great). My local distributor says I can't put the normal Renishaw system on this old of a machine, but I can put an aftermarket system on for around $12,000. That amount of money is a long way toward just getting a new machine and it would be a different system than my other Haas mills so extra training for the operator. This machine is old, but only has around 2,000 hours and is basically new, that's why this is worth looking at. Has anyone solved this with some aftermarket system that is less than $12,000? Thank you!
If your hfo is willing, they can sell you the package including macros, rotation and scaling for the $6k range pricing. At least mine did for me, although they basically let me know(I didn't ask because I wanted the deal) I was on my own as far as making everything work. That is a 96 vf2.
As far as putting it on, it's not a big deal with an 07 machine I would say. Worst case you could buy a new io board that matches what Haas has on the receiver. I just found matching connectors from digikey and hooked it up that way to my old io board. I did have to fiddle with the macros to match the relays I used.
Thank you for the information. My hfo had originally said it would be around 6k installed, but then they changed their mind for some reason and said it will not work. Same with a USB outlet, they told me it can't be done even though it must have been an option by 2007. Maybe that is the problem, when they look this bare bones machine serial number up, the io board doesn't support probing and replacing the board would allow the standard probing system.