a9cad? do tell? i can export as a DWF, DXF, DGN and... STL off the top of my head. few others too i know.

A9CAD is a free 2D drawing program. It's basically very similar to AutoCAD in its features and function (the simplest parts of AutoCAD, at least, and I should warn that I haven't used AutoCAD in...12? years).

It's great for doing 2D line drawings. Very nice, very simple, very free.

ah. there's a few of those kicking about.

autodesk labs has a nice one that's online.

i have a metalcutting bandsaw at work. cuts thru AL like butter, SS.. takes a while and needs manual lube feed - but decent.

but a mill wins!

i have a pretty sweet edge deburring tool thats quicker than filing down in case of removing burrs.
sq-pipe bender? or are we thinking of doing this by vice and hand?

square pip bender might be easiest but i'm not sure would do the neck ~1" radius.

i'm also pondering doing a ~4 wall construction with the side panels weleded to the top and bottom. all otu of flat stock, hammer in the bowl, the whole thing would be one unit of hollow metal.

I think the rope spring would utterly crush anything hollow, including round pipe. So you'd need something solid & beefy at that point of connection.

No, that is NOT what she said. Stop it.

easy enough to test i've got 1" commercial conduit and the frame in the garage.

Heh. I bet you that Nite-Ize utility pouch sitting on your kitchen island that the rope spring bends the conduit. It's soft metal.
(but you can keep the two Sharpies even if I'm right)

oh it may well, but no bet. it'd give us a baseline for known failure though.

Dang.