In my thought process the rivets add to the look, and strength, but from my mind I want is sewn and glued as well as the rivets. make it as good as you can.
I can see smaller shops not wanting to do these parts as they are low volume and multiple set ups on each part if you don't have a 5 axis machine. Do you still have the drawings of these parts? If you can scan them that might shorten my design time.
Mine was all gummed up and was lifting very erratic. I lubed it up each day that I fiddled with the machine and once it sunk in it stopped lifting all together. The set screw on the left side that controls the clamp pressure was not touching the block at all. I snugged that up and now it lifts around 1/8 inch above the material.
Well I got the video of the new wireing and belt loaded up to you tube. I will try to do some more videos this week if I get time.
new power and belt no head on base