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The base. Just under 3 inches in diameter and 1 inch deep, this was machined from an offcut of 3 inch diameter aluminium bar.

The bar was faced off both ends in the lathe, then chucked by its outer diameter, a recess was machined to take half of the shell of the 3 part thrust bearing (component #2), The outer diameter was then skimmed to improve the finish.

A 4.5mm hole was then drilled through the centre, which was then tapped M6 from the top (the end with the recess for the bearing), and 1/4 inch Whitworth (BSW) from the bottom, for attaching the head to the tripod.

The indexing holes around the periphery were centred, drilled and reamed using my jig borer and a dividing head. Note - the indexing holes are best done after the peg guide (component # xx) is completed and fixed in position.

The top. Once again made from a piece of 3 inch diameter aluminium bar. It was originally as thick as the base, but after a machining mistake it ended up thinner.

The bar was faced off, centre drilled 6mm to clear an M6 cap head screw which is used for the spindle, the channel in the centre was machined on the jig borer to the width and depth of the horizontal arm (40mm wide and 10mm deep).

A slight recess was turned in the centre to clear the inner diameter of the small ball race (component # xx), so that the top and the base could rotate with respect to each other when the M6 spindle was fitted. This can be clearly seen in the larger version of the picture at left.

TO BE CONTINUED.......