Quote Originally Posted by peety3 View Post
There's something to be said for exacting dimensions. The RRS lever clamps are apparently unforgiving when it comes to incorrect plate size: too narrow and they don't clamp firmly, too wide and they deform <something> or break. There's also the end stops on top of the shorter plates, making it easier to keep the plate square, or the captive screw that's easy to attach a lens but won't fall out unless you move it to one end. Some have safety stop screws so you can't slide them out of a clamp. Yes, they might be over-priced, but I'd rather not work through the mechanics of getting all those details right at a metal shop.
I suppose that the perception of complexity in any endeavour varies greatly depending on one's background experience. If there is a school with a machine shop in your neighbourhood you may find a shop teacher quite happy to have some students make some of these as an example of rather basic machining operations.