Hey Z, I've been following this thread for a while. Very impressed with your stick-to-it attitude despite the many challenges! I'm really excited to see where this project goes.
If you plan on using a rotary tool for any length of time, you might want to look into getting a Foredom flex shaft with a foot pedal (stick with the Foredom brand). They're not cheap, but they're a worthy investment. I use this one in jewelry making constantly (
https://www.amazon.com/Motor-Plastic-Pedal-Speed-Control/dp/B00CFSBO0A/) and it blows my dremels out of the water in every respect. They have a huge amount of torque compared to the smaller options. You'd be surprised at how accurately you can cut metal using a tungsten bit with higher torque, lower speeds and a foot control.
Sorry, didn't mean to thread jack, I'm not a rep for the company or anything, you just seem like the kind of fellow who would be able to do some awesome things with the right tools.