Cut, filed, and drilled spacer blocks for the z-axis motion system clearance. Discovered that for making straight hacksaw cuts through thick material, you can cut a trace around the entire perimeter first, and that will help guide the saw through straight. Also discovered that you can install the circlips using those IC tweezers to grab the holes and a small (ideally round) object that you can slide in between to spread the circlip open; it worked surprisingly well. Also observed that the shop-vac made super quick work of the aluminum chips and oil-file dust - way better than wiping or sweeping.