Any place to buy new side panels?

MPC Stuff and VST are out of stock. I got a 4000 a few months ago and during shipping the whole right panel snapped off. Not so keen on buying the wood panels, unless they have screws.

Anyone else know of somewhere I can purchase side panels for the 4000? Looking beat up without it. haha

They're scarce, I scratched one of mine like a year and a half ago and haven't found any in that whole time.

build it, or keep lookin for sum online

TreCipher617 wrote:build it, or keep lookin for sum online

Yep. or sand them (hopefully more scratches than chunks missing) fill in the cracks and repaint. I saw a guy remake a Ford Mustang that ended up being 60% Bondo-O, so anythings possible.

These machines are getting old.
It would be wise for collectors to start collecting machines for parts.

anybody ever thought of having them reproduced? i talked to a machinist friend of mine about having them cnc'd out of solid plastic (delrin, etc.) which would make them incredibly strong but they'd be expensive as solid 3/4" plastic ain't cheap. also they would have to be simpler in shape - e.g. no complex curvature.

jimfowler wrote:anybody ever thought of having them reproduced? i talked to a machinist friend of mine about having them cnc'd out of solid plastic (delrin, etc.) which would make them incredibly strong but they'd be expensive as solid 3/4" plastic ain't cheap. also they would have to be simpler in shape - e.g. no complex curvature.

3d printing along with classical machinist skills do send my mind reeling on those subjects.

rogue scrunt wrote:These machines are getting old.
It would be wise for collectors to start collecting machines for parts.

This.

Especially those parts not found in the Z-Series racks.

10+ years is approaching classic status for this often misunderstood wonder machine.

No doubt Clint. I can't stop obsessing over another seeing $600-$650 USD ones.

i've looked into 3D printing but for most places the physical dimensions are too big. i wasn't able to find any affordable printers who could accommodate the sizes of the panels. perhaps in time...

Oh yeah Jimfowler I meant closer to my 45-50th birthday and the 4000's 15-20th.

jimfowler wrote:anybody ever thought of having them reproduced? i talked to a machinist friend of mine about having them cnc'd out of solid plastic (delrin, etc.) which would make them incredibly strong but they'd be expensive as solid 3/4" plastic ain't cheap. also they would have to be simpler in shape - e.g. no complex curvature.

Pretty sure Mike from MPC Stuff would reproduce them if there was enough demand. However I suspect that demand isn't that high to justify the costs in making the manufacturing moulds, which is why you tend to find the newer machines catered for on the whole.

yep, selling two sets a year probably ain't worth it.

SV1200 wrote:I got a 4000 a few months ago and during shipping the whole right panel snapped off.

Isnt it possible to repair the damage? I mean, how many pieces is the panel broken into???

Thanks 4 the replys. Its pretty bad, the main plastic is solid, its the sphere connectors holding the screws that broke on all of them. Here is a pic