Jason Schuster

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  • I don't always wear a dress shirt and tie to the Makerspace, but when I do, you know I was photoshopped!

    • Bio

    I grew up on a farm, and have been a DIYer, Maker, Fabricator my whole life. I attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and earned a Bachelor's in Science in Mechanical Engineering. I then went to industry as a Design Engineer, where I worked at Caterpillar for 5 years and Case New Holland for 7 years. In 2015, I decided to go back to school for a Master's degree. I chose the Biomedical Engineering field because I wanted to stay in engineering and learn more about the ultimate machine: Us, myself, Human Physiology. My favorite activity is racing my bicycle, learning more about how the human body works would give me a fundamental understanding on how to improve fitness and recover faster, design better bicycles, ergonomics, kinematics!

    If you see me in Makerspace, say hi and introduce yourself, I am always happy to help out!

    As mentioned my favorite activity outside of Tulane is bicycle racing, my favorite race is the Leadville 100MTB, it is an endurance mountain bike race with a 12 hour cutoff, riders must complete a 100 mile course at an average elevation over 10,200 feet in Leadville, Colorado. My finishing record is 4 for 4. Leadville Race Series website

  • 2013 Leadville 100 MTB

    • Rapidly become my new favorite is Gravel Endurance Races! Before coming to Tulane, I finished the Dirty Kanza 200 mile race (and a few other local gravel events), this is also the longest ride I've ever done! Jason Schuster Maker Ninja PhD Candidate Department of Biomedical Engineering Lab Website: Biomechanics of Growth & Remodeling Lab Email: jschust5@tulane.edu

    Maker Skills:

    • 3d Printing: Laser Cutter, Lathe, Mill, Woodworking, Sand casting
    • Welding: TIG, MIG, Stick, & Oxy-acetylene
    • 3D Printing: Cura, Sprinter Firmware, Slic3r,
    • Programming: LabVIEW, MATLAB, Mathematica
    • Makerspace Training Certifications:


    • Learning: blender

    Tulane Makerspace Project Portfolio

    • Made on the Carvey - 2 Color HDPE
    • Tissue Stamp - CNC Milled Precision Stamping Fixture
    • Tissue Stamp - CNC Milled Precision Stamping Fixture
    • Tissue Stamp - Laser Cut Acrylic
    • Organizer Box for the stamps, created using the Inkscape Boxmaker Extension
    • Clamp Fixture Organizer - Designed in Solid Works and 3D Printed
    • Wood 1 Push Stick
    • Keyboard Stand
    • Keyboard Stand Detail
    • Dogbone stamp for mouse patellar tendon. Thats 0.75mm between the blades! Laser cut acrylic
    • Keyence laser caliper and Thorlabs fixture
    • Surface plate for laser caliper - Made on the Tormach CNC Mill
    • Unconfined compression plattens - Made on the Tormach CNC Lathe
    • cutting mats for tissue stamps - Made on the Carvey
    • completed cannula assembly with simple tube benders
    • I helped with the design work for this device, here's how the cannula are used
    • Added the hex to these previously made canula parts - Made on the Tormach CNC Mill
    • Top and bottom biochamber brackets, I added the shallow large diameter countersink to each part. A collar fits into the countersink and will align the test fixtures mounts - Made on the Tormach CNC Mill
    • Simple Locker Shelves design - Laser Cut
    • Shelves installed in my locker
    • CAM programming Fusion360 -Planar biaxial balancing grip
    • I made the 4mm diameter PTFE (teflon) roller on the lathe, the aluminum plate is the exact thickness to use a razor blade to make the final cut.
    • After cutting the gripping stock off, the roller is left with the desired height
    • Designed in Solid Works, CAM programming in Fusion360 - This is a double roller assembly to balance the tension in 4 sutures used to pull on soft tissue in a planar biaxial configuration.
    • Jig for making 100mm spaced fish hook grips for the planar biaxial device, These are used with the double rocker assemblies. Designed in Solid Works, Laser cut acrylic, and for fun, I used the media blaster to "fog" the bottom of the part
    • CNC Milled Aluminum Tendon Stamp, the width between the razor blades is 0.75mm!
    • Compression Platten for the lab, Hex nut pocket milled by CNC
    • CNC Milled Maple Shoe Lasts (Step 1) see write-up below for more info
    • CNC Milled Maple Shoe Lasts (Step 1) see write-up below for more info
    • Larger cannula, 7mm and 8mm diameters
    • I made this tube bender for the 2mm tubing part of the cannula
    • Fixture stand for placing the fish hooks in the tissue
    • The top is laser cut acrylic, made on the


    Wood 1 Saw Handle Push Stick Pattern

    If you would like to make a saw handle push stick for fun or for your Wood 1 training, here's the file! I laser engraved this pattern onto the piece of wood and then brought that to class, however, you could alternatively use the OLD SCHOOL CUT AND PASTE method! Yes, you guessed it: print the handle onto paper, cut it out with scissors, and then trace the design onto the wood. Not as technically cool, I know, but you will still end up with an awesome saw handle push stick (which could be engraved later!). Click on the image below and follow the "original file" link to download the PDF.

  • Saw handle PDF
  • Wood 1 Push Stick

    • Custom Cycling Shoes Old World Artisan & Craftsman Project

    This year (January 2018) I have decided to start a long term project to make my own custom footwear! Shoe styles the world over are driven by elegant form NOT function! You know what I'm talking about; the extreme examples are narrow or pointed dress shoes! I don't know anyone with a foot that narrow and toes forming a pointy triangle... There is a new wave of shoe companies now making wide toe box shoes, which are actually shaped like your foot. Running and daily shoes are available (e.g. Altra Running Shoes), however no one is yet making a cycling shoe. Cycling shoe companies are notorious for making super narrow shoes. It is possible to buy custom made shoes (e.g. Rocket7 Cycling Shoes), Rocket7 makes some awesome shoes, but the custom work also has a custom price. I think I can Do-It-Myself for a fraction of the cost and it will be fun!

    I am going to mix new technology with the old, however, most of this project will require learning an old world artisan skill, which is something I enjoy doing. I am going to document the journey here.

    • STEP 1: Create a 3D CAD model of my feet. The Tulane Makerspace has an iSense 3D scanner, Here are images of the test scans I did for a proof of concept.
  • 3D scanned right foot
  • 3D scanned left foot

    • UPDATE: This is not a Makerspace Tool, but I was lucky enough to get access to a Creoform Go! 3D Scanner.

  • Scanning my custom insoles (The "bottom" of my foot)
  • The next step is to use VXelements, which is Creaforms mesh editing software. This is my left foot after editing.
  • Next, I decided to 3D print the models, just to make sure they were the right size and fit the insoles. Completed right foot, 3D Printed with the Lulzbot TAZ
  • 3D Models fit perfectly to the insoles
  • Bottom of the foot was created from the scan of the top surface of the insole
    • STEP 2: After completion of the 3D models, I will next be creating a "last" this is the foot form that shoes are built on. Maple hardwood is the best material to use for a last. I am planning to use the Tormach CNC Mill to transform the 3D model into a wooden last shaped just like my foot.
  • Reverse engineering a Shoe Last: What is the hinge mechanism? Answer: Wooden pivot and an over-center spring

    • A great advantage of having a custom pair of lasts is they can be used to make almost any type of shoe. If I figure all this out, I hope to someday make my own custom leather dress shoes from these lasts! Worst case, if I can make them, then I could send them to someone else that can!

    UPDATE 17 DEC 2018: CNC Milling the maple blocks. Here's the work in progress:

  • Fusion 360 CAM
  • CNC Milling of the Left Foot started!
  • CNC Milling of the Left Foot in-process
  • CNC Milling of the Left Foot in-process
  • CNC Milling of the Left Foot in-process
  • Step 1 finished
  • Step 1 finished
  • Step 1 complete for both feet, they now need to be flipped and milled from the bottom side.
  • Step 1 complete


    • So that's as far as I will get at the Tulane Makerspace. This first step of milling is the last thing I had on my list before heading out. I finished up my Master's degree this semester and have decided to not pursue the PhD any further. So on to the next chapter in life! I do plan to continue working on this project and I'll post updates when I do.

    Once I finish up the milling of the last here's a summary of the next steps:

    • STEP 3: Create the patterns - There are a lot of videos on youtube for how to do this.
    • STEP 4: Materials - I have been scavenging eBay looking for old cycling shoes I can cut up and use the hardware from. Figuring out where to buy synthetic leather, foam, and fabrics is going to take some time and research. Finding materials may actually be one of the hardest parts of this project.
  • Reverse engineering a pair of eBay shoes, I will also reuse some of the hardware.
    • STEP 5: Hand Tools: The best tools look to be made by CS Osborne, there's a few specialty tools I'll be needing. I already own the primary and most expensive tool for this project, which is a heavy duty walking foot sewing machine.
    • STEP 6: The Sole - Originally, I was planning to do a carbon fiber layup, but after investigating it, I think I will start with fiberglass & resin, I think it will be a much simpler plan since I already have some experience with these materials.

    Exorcist3D YouTube Channel

    Here's my YouTube channel, several videos of my 3D printer and South Bend lathe are found here:

    Exorcist3D YouTube Channel

    • OpenSource 3D Printer

    In 2013, I built my own opensource 3D Printer. I modified the Prusa i3 design. Controlled by: Arduino Mega + RAMPS 1.5 with Sprinter firmware. The frame is made from 1/4" laser cut steel plates and 3/4" lathe turned rods. The build surface is heated and has a 10" x 10" x 10" build volume. Recently, I made several improvements and upgrades, which include a large screen LCD with SD card reader, X-axis belt tensioner, print cooler fan, and a genuine E3D Titan Extruder, which I mounted Bowden style (filament drive is remote mounted like the Ultimaker configuration). Many of these upgrades were printed in the Makerspace! Detailed list below. Future upgrades include a BL Touch auto bed level and 1.75mm genuine E3D V6 Nozzle. 

       Several of the parts I printed in the Makerspace:
   * Tan LCD display box
   * Purple X-axis belt tension bracket
   * Purple Arduino & Ramps box
   * Purple Printer cooler fan shroud

    If you are interested in building your own open source 3D printer, I suggest starting here: Reprap.org Also, the Lulzbot Taz machines are open source, all files to build their machine is available on their webpage! Same for the new Prusa printer recently added to the lineup.


    • Exorcist3D Printer
    • 3mm Budaschnozzle to be replaced
    • View from above
    • Upgrades Waiting: 1.75mm E3D V6 & BL Touch
    • E3D Extruder mounted remote/Bowden style
    • E3D V6 Hot End mounted in a new bracket
    • New power supply and Z-axis lead screws


    1934 South Bend Lathe & Projects

    This South Bend lathe is my own personal lathe, located in Nebraska. In 2010, I restored this lathe back to working condition. Over Christmas break (2017), I machined some small parts for my lab. These parts are cannula, used to mount soft tissues in our TA Instruments inflation-extension test device. The material is PEEK plastic, it can withstand the temperature of an autoclave, and machines nicely. Check out my YouTube link above, there is a quick video of the PEEK being machined.

    • 3.0mm Cannula
    • 1/8"NPT to 3.8mm Cannula
    • 1934 Southbend 405 Lathe
    • X-axis fine adjustment
    • Updated tooling post


    Last Updated

    20 September 2018

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