Hi Jack

1) you'll need to pivots one for the claw on the chassis then another on the claw further up for the linac, don't just drill random holes you have to think about it as depending on where you put them will give you the crusher tip force ( i found this the hardest bit)

2) as you may know i made my crusher from ti due the size and weight issues, but i do have a steel claw i can sell to you if you want heavier than mine but made well as it has 4 sides then supporting bars through the entire claw (this is the best method to make one i believe)

3) see above

4) i would personally go for a motorized basically due to the fact if you do the claw method it looks a bit as if your copying razer but it's up to you. what i would say don't do as i did and leave the self righter until you have built the rest of the robot as it is a nightmare to engineer one in

hope this helps

alex