There is no metal of any sort in the panels. The only metal are screws attaching the top of the arbor to the ends & the angle braces running from the upper ends diagonally to the top. The panels are laminated spruce 7/8" W x 1-1/2" thick. Lap joints at the crossover points.Dowels at the angled corners of the pattern. The hexagons were formed from laminated squares 1-1/2" thick with the inner areas first drilled out then final machining with a jigsaw attachment on my RAS. The outer shape of the hexagon was cut using the RAS. Frames were assembled to slide snuggly into the spaces between the upper, mid, & bottom design panels. These are 6" wide. Dowels & glue were used where ever the pattern touches the insides of the frame. The patterned frames were then dowelled & glued into the end uprights.The top,mid, & bottom 6" wide panel design I stole from a quilting book by scanning & printing the design, then cutting the design into segments & shuffling them around until I found a modified design that I liked. So there you are....nothing overly difficult because I'm only a hobbyist & I have to keep things simple.
Lee