CAD basics
Interface, navigation, and engineering design concepts
Programs / 05 pathways
Learn the tools.
Practice the process.
CADReach programs are designed as a progression: begin with fundamentals, build confidence through projects, and apply your skills with care.
PROGRAM ACCESS
Interest openChoose your pathway01
START HERE
CAD Foundations
Six sessions. One strong beginning.
Free beginner instruction for people with little or no CAD experience. Exact lessons may vary between AutoCAD and SOLIDWORKS, but every pathway centers on design thinking and deliberate practice.
01
Sketch with intent
Sketching, dimensions, geometry, and constraints
Build in 3D
Extrudes, cuts, fillets, chamfers, and basic 3D modeling
Shape the idea
More complex parts and design intent
Connect the parts
Assemblies, technical drawings, or software-specific advanced skills
Make it yours
A final independent design project
Workshop curriculum. Session dates and delivery formats are shared through the CADReach interest list.
02
PRACTICE
CAD Project Lab
Turn individual tools into a complete design.
After the fundamentals, participants work through guided challenges that add complexity a little at a time.
Modular Study Caddy
Beginner · single-part model
Fold-Flat Tablet Stand
Beginner · two-part assembly
Desk Cable Clamp
Intermediate · fastener assembly
Snap-Fit Sensor Case
Intermediate · enclosure design
Gear Ratio Demonstrator
Intermediate · motion study
Modular Robot Chassis
Project · multi-part assembly
Concept preview. These generated examples show the kind of work a Project Lab could include; they are not completed CADReach projects or a fixed project library.
03
FLAGSHIP PROGRAM
Design for Community
Learn to design with someone,
not just for something.
Participant teams can work on appropriate, non-safety-critical problems with community organizations. The goal is not just a CAD file—it is a thoughtful process built around listening, requirements, feedback, and iteration.
01
Identify
02
Understand
03
Sketch
04
Model
05
Review
06
Iterate
07
Deliver
Engineering integrityCADReach projects are educational and must not be treated as licensed professional engineering services or used for safety-critical applications.
04
SUPPORT OTHERS
CAD Mentors
Grow by helping someone else begin.
More experienced participants and volunteers can help beginners, review models, assist at workshops, and—when ready—help teach sessions.
Support first-time learners
Help participants navigate the interface, translate prompts into first steps, and build confidence without taking over their work.
Review models and design intent
Ask clear questions about dimensions, constraints, and feature order, then offer specific revision notes.
Assist during workshops
Help with setup, troubleshooting, and small-group check-ins while the session lead guides the lesson.
Contribute to future curriculum
Suggest beginner-friendly exercises, test lesson instructions, and flag steps that need clearer language.
05
SHOW THE PROCESS
Portfolio Pathway
Make the thinking visible.
Participants can organize several completed projects and practice explaining the decisions, revisions, and technical skills behind the final model.
Select representative projects
Choose a small set that shows range, growth, and a clear role for each technical skill.
Document sketches and iterations
Capture early ideas, version changes, and the reasons a design moved in a new direction.
Write concise project summaries
Explain the goal, constraints, tools used, and most important decision in plain language.
Present technical work clearly
Use consistent views, readable dimensions, and short captions that let the process lead.
CADReach does not guarantee employment, certification, admission, or professional credentials.
Find your path
Choose your starting point.
Tell us whether you want to learn, mentor, or bring a community design need.