Tri-pod/slide 3-axis design

Hexapods really fire up my mojo. 5-axis would be cool but way out of
my league.

Would not the simplest 3-axis "hexapod" be to use 3 rigid struts (as
earlier suggested) and a radial array of three linear slides above.

It seems that the slides and encoders would be easier and cheaper to
source and the radial array would make the software easier to
configure.

The only downside I can think of is that the upper frame would have
to be more substantial.

Thanks.

Sheldon