?The pipe is thinner and lighter than standard PVC, and with 2 inch OD. ?Options considered included having holes made with a Forstner bit along the length of each arm to decrease weight while maintaining rigidity and integrity to avoid sag-twist. ?Another option considered was having just the 1 upper tube for the vac hose and have the power cords housed under that within the arms where they could then be threaded through a bit of flex hose at the articulation to guide them and prevent pinching.

For the "wood version" with the wider angled thrust bearings, we are considering top and bottom pieces of maple 1 inch or 1 1/4 inch thick, and how to make the area of the arms strong where they meet the center pivot section. ?One option could be a little aluminum on the top bottom as reinforcement. ?The idea for the "wood version" not to avoid aluminum, but to develop something that can be built in less time with less need for working with aluminum and precision bearing placement, yet have the same functionality and very adequate strength and durability. ?That is mostly to benefit others wanting to make one, and that gets worked on when the hoses and more gears arrive. ?