With the gear set done, next looked to the big support brackets that hold the shaft. After lots of measuring and digging in the racks, I found a chunk of aluminum that I can use for the thick center walls, some thin brass flat bar for the edge flanges, and some steel for the middle bracket base plate. Thought I would have to either order a piece for the two end bracket bases or cut down some sheet, then found a piece of wide 260 brass flat bar that a cousin gave me a couple years ago. Usually I avoid that crap since it cuts/drills so bad, but figured I'd use a bunch of the bar up on these simple flat plates. Well, wound up having the drill break in one of the holes when the 260 brass grabbed on and wouldn't let go!
Did get them finished up, here are all three set in place on the main base plate - the two brass ones at the sides, the steel one in the middle.
Next up will be to lay out the shapes on the ali plate for the upright walls and get them cut out - with luck the upright bandsaw will cut it okay so it just needs final trimming. The walls have a flat bottom, but the sides are all curves. I'll trim them out with the thin brass flat bar, will run in some brass screws into the ali and peen over the ends to form flush rivets to hold them in place.
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