Initially, we searched for parts to create a basis for sizing components such as:
1) Cylinder housing (3" pvc pipe)
2) Standard nut sizes such as fastener callout size 3/8-16" with 9/16" external width and 9/16" hex bearings to match. However, we couldn't obtain hex nuts with 9/16" ID and had to opt for 11/16" which we had to order extra-wide nuts for (Something we were hoping to avoid by utilizing conventional manufactured sizes in the first place).
3) Threaded rod to match fastener size, and arbitrarily 2x4 wood to build the base with.
4) A toothed belt for sizing the distance between the pulleys along with pulley indent sizing.
After finding these parts on McMaster, we imported the CAD designs and started to mock up our project.