CAD Project Ideas (60+ Easy to Advanced) With Diagrams, Photos and Video

CAD Project Ideas (Easy to Advanced) 60+ Models You Can Actually Finish

If you are learning CAD and you want project ideas, here is my honest take. Do not start with a random super complex engine assembly on day one. Start with a clean part, then a small assembly, then a mechanism. CAD skill builds like gym strength.

Below is a list I would personally use if I was starting again. It is grouped by difficulty and also by domain, so you can pick what matches your interest. Most ideas include what to model, what to show in your final submission, and how to make it look professional.

What to submit for any CAD project (so it looks serious)

1. One clean 3D model with correct proportions
2. Exploded view of the assembly, if it has parts
3. One drawing sheet with dimensions and tolerances where needed
4. A bill of materials for assemblies
5. One simple render or animation

Photo style cheat sheets (you can copy to your report)

These are illustration panels that look like photos. I added them so students can quickly understand what a good CAD submission looks like. They load fast, work on mobile, and you do not need to download anything.

Cheat sheet 1: sketch to 3D part

Cheat sheet 2: assembly, exploded view, BOM

Cheat sheet 3: one drawing sheet with key dimensions

My CAD workflow (diagram)

Easy CAD projects (start here) 20 ideas

1. Phone stand with adjustable angle and cable slot
2. Key holder wall mount with screw holes and fillets
3. Simple storage box with lid and snap fit idea
4. Nut and bolt set with correct thread representation style
5. Door hinge with pin and rotation clearance
6. Bearing block housing with shaft hole and mounting holes
7. Clamp and bracket set for a desk or shelf
8. G clamp style frame with screw mechanism as simplified model
9. Water bottle design with cap and grip features
10. Soap dish with drainage slots and smooth surfaces
11. Pen or pencil holder with pattern cuts
12. Wall hook with ribs for strength
13. Wrench or spanner outline with correct thickness and chamfers
14. Simple pulley wheel with groove and bearing seat
15. Gear pair basic spur gears with center distance check
16. Desk organizer tray with partitions
17. Simple fan blade with hub and angle
18. Helmet shell shape practice with surface tools
19. Basic bottle opener or tool handle ergonomics
20. Chess piece set using revolve features

Intermediate CAD projects (parts plus assembly) 25 ideas

1. Scissor jack mechanism with assembly motion
2. Hand drill or small gearbox casing with cover
3. Mini vise with screw and jaw movement
4. Bicycle pedal assembly with bearings
5. Chain sprocket system with tensioner concept
6. Cam follower mechanism with displacement curve
7. Crank and slider mechanism with animation
8. Oldham coupling or jaw coupling with proper clearances
9. Universal joint model with rotation demonstration
10. Small conveyor roller system with frame
11. Sheet metal enclosure with bends and flat pattern
12. Foldable chair concept with hinge constraints
13. Simple bicycle frame layout with tube joins
14. Air pump piston cylinder concept model
15. Ball valve or gate valve simplified assembly
16. Lead screw table or linear stage with nut and guide
17. Hydraulic bottle jack simplified model
18. 3D printed drone frame with mounts and cable routing
19. Tripod stand with locking joints
20. Kitchen mixer paddle and bowl fit study
21. Small turbine blade and hub assembly
22. Windmill with gearbox concept
23. Brake disc and caliper concept with clearances
24. Heat sink with fin variations and comparison
25. Latch and lock mechanism with motion

Advanced CAD projects (mechanisms, design intent, simulation) 15 ideas

1. Piston crankshaft assembly with flywheel and motion study
2. Planetary gear train with ratios and animation
3. 4 bar linkage mechanism with path tracing
4. Robotic gripper with servo mount and jaw force estimate
5. Suspension wishbone model with basic geometry
6. Steering mechanism concept and turning angle comparison
7. Rack and pinion system in a housing with limit stops
8. Disc brake system with pad wear allowance concept
9. Press fit design study with tolerance and material notes
10. Injection mold ready part with draft angles and parting line
11. CFD ready duct design with smooth transitions
12. FEA study of a bracket with different rib patterns
13. Design a small lifting mechanism with safety factor check
14. Gearbox concept with lubrication space and cover design
15. Drone landing gear with impact and material considerations

How to pick the right CAD project (quick rules)

1. If you are a beginner, pick something you can finish in one sitting and then make the drawing sheet perfect.
2. If you know assemblies, pick a mechanism and show motion plus an exploded view.
3. If you want to impress, do one small simulation or a tolerance focused drawing.

Video: a good CAD mechanism tutorial

If you want a solid reference project, this Fusion 360 mechanism tutorial is a good one to follow. It is detailed enough to learn good habits like clean sketches, proper constraints, and assembly thinking.

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If you tell me your software (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, AutoCAD, CATIA) and your level, I will shortlist the best 10 projects from this list and tell you exactly what to submit for each.