{"id":10862,"date":"2026-08-03T14:41:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T14:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/?p=10862"},"modified":"2026-08-04T13:28:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T13:28:31","slug":"taking-flight-graduate-student-showcases-5-axis-machining-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/blog\/2026\/08\/03\/taking-flight-graduate-student-showcases-5-axis-machining-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduate Student Showcases 5-Axis Machining Skills Through Eagle Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_slider _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_slide _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_transition=&#8221;on&#8221;]<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-5-scaled.jpg\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2048\" alt=\"Graduate student Alex b. shows the eagle project he created\" class=\"wp-image-10854 alignleft size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-5-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-5-1280x1024.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-5-980x784.jpg 980w, https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-5-480x384.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 2560px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_transition=&#8221;on&#8221;]<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-8-scaled.jpg\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2048\" alt=\"Graduate student Alex b. sets up for the eagle project\" class=\"wp-image-10855 alignleft size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-8-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-8-1280x1024.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-8-980x784.jpg 980w, https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-8-480x384.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 2560px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_transition=&#8221;on&#8221;]<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-30.jpg\" width=\"1193\" height=\"954\" alt=\"Early stage of eagle project - 1\" class=\"wp-image-10857 alignleft size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-30.jpg 1193w, https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-30-980x784.jpg 980w, https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-30-480x384.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1193px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_transition=&#8221;on&#8221;]<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-32.jpg\" width=\"1350\" height=\"1080\" alt=\"Later stage of eagle project - 3\" class=\"wp-image-10859 alignleft size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-32.jpg 1350w, https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-32-1280x1024.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-32-980x784.jpg 980w, https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-32-480x384.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1350px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; 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_module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_transition=&#8221;on&#8221;]<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-11-scaled.jpg\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" alt=\"Graduate student Alex b. shows the eagle project he created\" class=\"wp-image-10856 alignleft size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-11-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-11-1280x854.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-11-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-11-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 2560px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>[\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_slider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;4_4&#8243;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221;]<p><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">What began as a project in ET 554 Advanced 3D Metal Manufacturing continued through the summer for Alex Borrelli, a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcu.edu\/learn\/programs\/technology-ms\/index.aspx\">Master of Science in Engineering Technology<\/a><\/strong> student at Western Carolina University.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;3_5,2_5&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221;][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;3_5&#8243;][et_pb_video src=&#8221;https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/download-6.mp4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; title_text=&#8221;eagle project&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;2_5&#8243;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<p>The project, a detailed eagle machined from 6061 aluminum, was originally started during the spring semester as part of coursework with Dr. Yang Zhang. Though similar to a machining project developed by Titans of CNC, Alex developed the programming and machining process for his eagle independently.<\/p>\n<p>Completing the project required approximately 30 hours of programming in Mastercam and 14 hours of machining time on WCU&#8217;s HAAS UMC-500 5-axis mill.<\/p>\n<p>For Alex, who earned an undergraduate degree in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcu.edu\/learn\/programs\/engineering-technology-bs\/index.aspx\">Engineering Technology<\/a><\/strong> from WCU and is originally from Florida, the project provided an opportunity to apply and expand the machining, CAD, and CAM skills that led him to pursue a master&#8217;s degree. The completed eagle also serves as a demonstration of the capabilities of advanced 5-axis manufacturing technology.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What began as a project in ET 554 Advanced 3D Metal Manufacturing continued through the summer for Alex Borrelli, a Master of Science in Engineering Technology student at Western Carolina University. The project, a detailed eagle machined from 6061 aluminum, was originally started during the spring semester.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3401,"featured_media":10855,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<!-- wp:divi\/placeholder {\"lock\":{\"type\":\"object\",\"default\":{\"move\":false,\"remove\":false}}} -->\n[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\" _builder_version=\"4.27.7\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.27.7\" _module_preset=\"default\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\"][et_pb_column _builder_version=\"4.27.7\" _module_preset=\"default\" type=\"4_4\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\"][et_pb_slider _builder_version=\"4.27.7\" _module_preset=\"default\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\" hover_enabled=\"0\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" custom_margin=\"0px||0px||false|false\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\"][et_pb_slide _builder_version=\"4.27.7\" _module_preset=\"default\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\" hover_enabled=\"0\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"]<p><img src=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-5-scaled.jpg\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2048\" alt=\"Graduate student Alex b. shows the eagle project he created\" class=\"wp-image-10854 alignleft size-full\" \/><\/p>[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide _builder_version=\"4.27.7\" _module_preset=\"default\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\" hover_enabled=\"0\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"]<p><img src=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-8-scaled.jpg\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2048\" alt=\"Graduate student Alex b. sets up for the eagle project\" class=\"wp-image-10855 alignleft size-full\" \/><\/p>[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide _builder_version=\"4.27.7\" _module_preset=\"default\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\" hover_enabled=\"0\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"]<p><img src=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-30.jpg\" width=\"1193\" height=\"954\" alt=\"Early stage of eagle project - 1\" class=\"wp-image-10857 alignleft size-full\" \/><\/p>[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide _builder_version=\"4.27.7\" _module_preset=\"default\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\" hover_enabled=\"0\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"]<p><img src=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-32.jpg\" width=\"1350\" height=\"1080\" alt=\"Later stage of eagle project - 3\" class=\"wp-image-10859 alignleft size-full\" \/><\/p>[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide _builder_version=\"4.27.7\" _module_preset=\"default\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\" hover_enabled=\"0\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"]<p><img src=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-33.jpg\" width=\"1361\" height=\"1089\" alt=\"Later stage, more detail of eagle project - 1\" class=\"wp-image-10858 alignleft size-full\" \/><\/p>[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide _builder_version=\"4.27.7\" _module_preset=\"default\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\" hover_enabled=\"0\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"]<p><img src=\"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/405\/2026\/08\/Eagle-Project-11-scaled.jpg\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" alt=\"Graduate student Alex b. shows the eagle project he created\" class=\"wp-image-10856 alignleft size-full\" \/><\/p>[\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_slider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n<!-- \/wp:divi\/placeholder -->","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[86],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wcu-engineering"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3401"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10862"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10862\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10877,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10862\/revisions\/10877"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10855"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}