DesignWithAjay’s Beginner CAD Projects: Bicycle Stand & Study Lamp

At Ajay Industries, we believe that great design starts with simple ideas and solid fundamentals. Whether you’re a student, hobbyist, or aspiring mechanical designer, these beginner CAD projects—Bicycle Stand and Study Lamp—are perfect for learning how to model, assemble, and document functional products using SolidWorks or Fusion 360.

Project 1: Bicycle Stand

Objective: Design a stable, lightweight stand for parking and displaying bicycles.

Key Features:

• Modular frame with bent tube or sheet metal profiles
• Rubberized contact points for grip and protection
• Foldable or detachable base for portability
• Optional branding plate or QR code slot

CAD Learning Outcomes:

• Sketching with symmetry and constraints
• Using sheet metal tools (bend, flange, cutout)
• Creating assemblies with mates and motion simulation
• Generating BOM and exploded views for fabrication

Design Tips from Ajay Industries:

• Use global variables to control width and height
• Simulate load-bearing stress for different bike weights
• Export DXF for laser cutting or CNC bending

Project 2: Study Lamp

Objective: Create a compact, adjustable desk lamp for students and designers.

Key Features:

• Articulated arm with rotational joints
• LED housing with heat sink geometry
• Integrated pen holder or USB charging port
• Base with anti-slip pads and wire routing

CAD Learning Outcomes:

• Multi-body part modeling and in-context assembly
• Revolve and sweep features for lamp head and arm
• Applying materials and rendering with SolidWorks Visualize
• Creating technical drawings with exploded views and annotations

Design Tips from Ajay Industries:

• Use mate references for fast assembly
• Simulate light spread using Visualize or external plugins
• Design for 3D printing or injection molding with draft angles

What You Get with Each Project

• Editable 3D CAD files (.SLDPRT, .STEP)
• Fully dimensioned 2D drawings
• BOM with part codes and material specs
• Exploded views and assembly guides
• Optional STL files for 3D printing

Who These Projects Are For

• Students learning mechanical design fundamentals
• Makers building functional prototypes
• Educators teaching CAD workflows
• Designers exploring modular product architecture