[DonRotolo]

Nice design, relatively compact.

I'd rather see that small gear above the top plane of the side plates also have a 3rd plate for a bearing, maybe something that fastened to the outside end of the inner side plate. However, your design would probably be OK in practice, since the shaft is supported well and the overhang is small.

For what it is worth: in our side plates we put a grid of 17/64" holes 1/2" on center, everywhere they will fit. Although the side plates get a little lighter, the real reason is that now we can bolt most anything to anywhere as needed.