Abstract A device that can study the two-dimensional distribution of ultrasonic diffraction on lattice structures has been developed for educational laboratory, enabling students to design the size, shape and dimension of diffraction obstacles independently. In the experiment, metal balls were used to simulate atomic lattice structures, and the two-dimensional diffraction distribution data of simple cubic, body-centered cubic, and hexagonal close-packed structure were collected. The results were compared with the sound field simulation of COMSOL, and good consistency was found. By observing the diffraction results of complex structures, students can gain a better understanding of the concept of diffraction.