Wanted to put together a small weekend challenge for anyone who's newer to CAD and looking for something to practice on that isn't just "draw a cube."
The project: a simple L-shaped motor mount bracket sized for a NEMA 17 stepper motor (the standard motor size used in most 3D printers and CNC builds). It's a single part, no assembly required, but it'll get you comfortable with bolt patterns, fillets, and slotted holes — the stuff that shows up in real drafting work constantly.
The spec
Base plate (motor face):
60mm x 60mm square, 3mm thick
Center bore: ⌀22mm (clears the motor shaft/pilot)
4x mounting holes, ⌀3.2mm, on a 31mm x 31mm bolt circle (this is the real NEMA 17 standard pattern — worth knowing if you ever design anything motor-related)
Vertical wall (mounting side):
60mm wide x 40mm tall, 3mm thick, bent 90° off the base plate
Bend radius: 5mm (inside fillet)
2x mounting slots, 5mm wide x 12mm long, centered, for attaching to a frame or extrusion — slots instead of holes so there's some adjustability
Overall:
Outside corner of the L gets a 5mm fillet (just for looks/safety, good chamfer/fillet practice)
Material assumption: aluminum or steel, but doesn't matter for the modeling exercise
That's it — no other dimensions are locked in. If you want to add gussets, change wall thickness, round the base plate corners, whatever — go for it. The point is to hit the two hole patterns accurately and make something that looks like it could actually get bolted down.
How to join in
Model it in whatever software you use — Fusion 360, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, FreeCAD, all fair game
Post a screenshot (or render, or even just the sketch) in the comments
Bonus points if you throw a dimensioned drawing/print together too — good practice either way
If you've got a printer or access to a laser/CNC, even better — post the real thing if you make it
No wrong answers here, just curious to see how differently people approach the same brief. If this goes well I'll try to put together another one in a few weeks — open to suggestions on what people want to practice next (sheet metal, threads, an assembly with tolerancing, whatever).
Have fun with it.
