Category: Uncategorized

August 27, 2026

This September newsletter is coming out a few days early because I said I’d let people know the EEW 6.1 as it arrived, and that just happened.  But if you aren’t interested in the EEW 6.1 check out the other articles farther down.

EEW 6.1 in Stock!

The EEW 6.1 is finally back in stock in my store. You can buy it here.  I have lots of them so everyone who wants one should be able to get this my most popular eSpinner with it’s 8 ounce bobbins.  I know a lot of people have been waiting for this and I’m sorry it too so long to get them back in stock.

Battery Video

We made this video explaining in depth what to look for in a battery for your eSpinner.  It mostly focuses on USB C batteries, but also covers the other options too.

Storing EEW Fold Hooks

Did you know you can keep your hooks on flyer when you fold the EEW Fold?  You can if you center them on the flyer and point the hooks upwards.  Vampy, made a short video showing how.

Behind the Scenes: Why I Keep Shipping Simple

You might have noticed that I keep things pretty straightforward when it comes to shipping your orders. I wanted to pull back the curtain a bit and share the “why” behind our shipping process and how keeping it simple benefits everyone.

Saving the Enviroment and Money: First off, I believe that the cheapest shipping options are actually the most environmentally friendly. When we stick to standard shipping speeds, carriers can delay and batch packages together. This means fewer half-empty trucks on the road, highly optimized routes, and less fuel used. It’s a win for the planet.

I’ve also found that the majority of our community is on board with prioritizing affordable shipping over lightning-fast speeds. While a rushed shipment is occasionally requested, my goal is to make most people happy, most of the time, at a price that makes sense.

Automation Keeps Prices Lower: Keeping our shipping options simple allows us to heavily automate the process behind the scenes. These days, I have a fantastic part-time shipper helping out. Because we don’t juggle different shipping tiers, our system automatically picks the right shipping method and prints the labels without any manual data entry.

Having fewer manual steps means there are fewer places to make a mistake. It reduces shipping errors, speeds up the packing process, and directly helps us keep the prices of our tools lower for you.

Work-Life Balance: Finally, we currently batch our fulfillment and ship orders just two days per week. This ensures our shipper maintains a great work-life balance while still getting your gear out the door efficiently. Having a few days of delay before expensive expedited shipping just doesn’t make sense.

Thank you for being a community that values sustainability, simplicity, and supporting small businesses!

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

• EEW Maker Kit Kickstarter – November 2026

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Happy Spinning,
Maurice

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

EEW Maker Kit Prototype

I’m excited to share a look at the latest prototype for the EEW Maker Kit. Unlike my previous e-spinners, this project is all about empowering you to build and customize your own wheel. As this fiber community well knows, you feel a pride of ownership when you make something with your own hands and I think for many that will be true if you’re making your own eSpinner.

Instead of an assembled spinner, I’ll supply the core hardware (motor, circuit board, display, steel spindle, and more). You 3D print the rest of the body using open source CAD files. My hope is that this will spark new ideas and drive our fiber craft forward. This project is still a long ways off, but I like sharing early prototypes as it give this amazing community time to give feedback. I will keep you updated with my monthly updates.

Watch the prototype in action and get a walkthrough of the new features here.

EEW Fold FAQ

I’m excited to announce that the EEW Fold is officially in stock in the store!

Overall, the release has gone incredibly well. In fact, I’ve had the fewest issues reported with this release out of any eSpinner I’ve launched. It’s been so great seeing all the happy spinners sharing their experiences on the online forums.

Since we started shipping a few weeks ago, a few common questions have come up, so I put together a quick FAQ video to help everyone get the most out of their new wheel.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

• EEW 6.1 – September 2026

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Happy Spinning,
Maurice

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

The EEW Fold is in stock and available to order today. Buy it here.

Photo by Craftmehappy

I designed this wheel to be portable, but it also packs a significant punch when it comes to performance. Here are the major highlights:

• Built-in Display: This is our first wheel to feature a screen showing your real-time flyer RPM.
• Top Speed: The EEW Fold is our fastest eSpinner.
• Capacity: It comes equipped with medium sized 4 oz bobbins.

You can see more detail and get the specifications here.

For those on the Kickstarter, we are finishing shipping those this week.  The orders placed on my store should ship early next week. Thank you to everyone who has followed the development of this wheel.

The EEW Lazy Kate is also back in stock.

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Happy Spinning,
Maurice

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

July 01, 2026

EEW Nano 2.1 Foot Pedal

A common request has been a foot pedal for the EEW Nano.  The EEW Nano is fundamentally different from the EEW 6 and EEW Fold so the foot pedals for those were never going to work.  What I did here was to take a toggling switch (type often used for Christmas treel lights) and worked with a manfacturer of those to put USB plugs on it instead.  I choose to put Type A USB plugs which allows you to put it before or after the USB Extension cable that came with the EEW Nano 2.1.  This gives you the most flexibility on where you put it and lets it easily be used with your foot or hand.  This will also work with the EEW Nano 2.0, but not with earlier versions unless you have the USB cable for it.

You can purchase it from my store here.

The Secret to Picture-Perfect Bobbins

Have you ever wondered how some spinners get those incredibly neat, visually stunning bobbins? The talented creator Craftmehappy just published a fantastic deep-dive into her exact bobbin-filling technique and the secret involves using an app!

Not only is she an amazing fiber artist and a massive help behind the scenes as an EEW beta tester, but she’s also the artist behind many of the gorgeous photos I’ve been lucky enough to share with you all. Even if you don’t read the whole guide, I highly recommend clicking over just to admire the photos. Go check out her blog and learn her secrets!

EEW Fold Info

I’ve shared free 3D printable files for the EEW Fold.  It includes bobbin files and a bunch of other parts you can use to customize the color of your EEW Fold. If you don’t have a 3D printer and aren’t sure how to get these parts made by someone else then check out this page.

This video is a great overview of what comes with the EEW Fold and it works. A huge thanks to Vampy who made a getting started video for the EEW Fold.

Photo by Craftmehappy

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

• EEW Fold – August 2026
• EEW Lazy Kate – August 2026
• EEW 6.1 – September 2026

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Happy Spinning,
Maurice

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

EEW Fold Completed

Great news on the production front.  Assembly for the EEW Fold is fully complete! The shipping container is currently on the water heading toward Massachusetts. I am prioritizing Kickstarter fulfillment the moment the truck arrives at the warehouse. Once those backer orders are out the door, the remaining stock will go up on the site.  I ordered a lot of extras so I’m sure there will be enough for everyone who wants one. If everything goes smoothly, expect to see them available in late July or early August on my store.

Photo by Craftmehappy

EEW Drum Carder Prototype Update

In this video I talk about the improvements in the latest drum carder prototype.  The biggest of those is the new hybrid drive system.  This video shows me talking about and demonstrating different changes to the prototype, but it does not show me carding with it.  If this sounds interesting to you, check out this video.

Ghost in the Machine: Navigating Compound Failures

Engineering is often about hitting walls, but this past month I hit two in a row that combined into a particularly frustrating puzzle. It was a classic case of hardware troubleshooting where the tools you trust end up leading you astray.

It started while testing a new anti-spark feature for a new version of the EEW Drum Carder circuit board. A subtle design bug accidentally blocked all power to the board. While I solved this quickly with some board reworks, those kinds of “surgery” repairs always leave a lingering worry: Did I accidentally damage a component or introduce a new issue?

That worry was amplified when my STM32 programmer died without me knowing. The programmers appeared perfectly functional, LEDs were on and my computer saw the device. But it refused to handshake with the chip. This turned debugging into a nightmare because I assumed the issue was with the newly reworked circuit board I was designing. I spent a long time triple-checking my new circuit design, assuming the fault was mine before I finally ordered a new programmer and confirmed that was the problem.

Overlapping failures like these are a headache, but they are an essential part of the process. This process eventually leads to a more reliable tool for the community.  The EEW Fold was the first generation of this new unified hardware and software.  The more I work on and refine both the hardware and software, the more I’m convinced this will pay long-term benefits to our fiber community.  These improvements will be in the EEW Fold, EEW Drum Carder, and EEW Maker Kit.  Eventually I will port these benefits to other things like the EEW 6.x and a future version of the EEW Cone Winder.  And I’m also convinced it will let me design new fiber tools faster.  This is proving true for the EEW Maker Kit where the circuit board was designed in record time (though I still need to test and do the software tuning for it).

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

• EEW Fold – August 2026
• EEW 6.1 – September 2026
• EEW Lazy Kate – October 2026

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Happy Spinning,
Maurice

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

May 02, 2026

EEW Maker Kit Update

Last month, I sent out a survey to gauge interest in a 3D-printed eSpinner, and the response was much larger than I expected. Because of that, I’ve set up a Discord server for a group of people interested in testing and making suggestions. The tenative name for this is the EEW Maker Kit.

Based on community feedback, I’m working on a version that uses the EEW 6 motor and bobbin size. Beyond those core components, I’m trying to maximize the number of parts that can be 3D printed. My main goals for this project are:

• Drive Innovation: Expanding the eSpinner development community to foster new ideas.
• Affordability: Providing a high-quality option for makers who already have 3D printers.
• Open Platform: Creating a functional base model that is easy for the community to modify and improve.

I don’t expect this kit to be as popular as my fully assembled eSpinners, but I think it’s an important new option. Just as the EEW Nano introduced a new category of eSpinners, I’m hoping this project will expand the fiber community.

Below is an early prototype of this project.

EEW Drum Carder

Progress is moving along well. I’m currently finalizing the parts for a new prototype. I’ve ended up making significantly more changes than I initially expected, so I still need to test how everything performs.

This next prototype features a unique hybrid drive system that is part gears and part timing belt. I’m not quite ready to explain the full “why” behind this design yet since there is still a chance it won’t work out and I’ll revert to a previous version.  But if it does work, it offers some dramatic advantages over the old system.

I’ll go into more detail once I have a final solution in a future video. I’m very excited about this; I’m working hard to not just copy what is already on the market, but to innovate and create something that is genuinely better for most fiber artists.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

• EEW Fold – July 2026
• EEW 6.1 – September 2026
• EEW Lazy Kate – October 2026

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Happy Spinning,
Maurice

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

EEW Yarn Counter 2 – Why I’m Actually Lowering the Price

I shouldn’t be shocked so easily, but this community did it to me again.

Back in January, I stocked 500 EEW Yarn Counter 2s, thinking that would keep us set for a while. You cleared the shelves in just two weeks. While I’m still catching my breath, I have some great news… the “cavalry” has finally arrived.

A massive new shipment is officially in stock. Based on my historical data, this batch should last us about two years.  Though at the rate this community is growing, we’ll see if my math holds up!

The even better news? Recent reductions in import tariffs meant my costs dropped by about 40% on this shipment compared to the first small batch of 500. I’m a firm believer in passing those wins back to you.

• Old Price: $89
• New Price: $79

Check out the EEW Yarn Counter 2 on my store.

The EEW 6.1 Bobbins arrived in the same shipment, so those are officially back in stock too!

New Experiment: 3D Printed eSpinner Kit

Link to survey for this project.

I’ve been thinking about a way to spark more innovation in the spinning community. What if I offered a kit where you provide 3D printed parts and I provide the rest?

I’m considering a new, low-cost kit that provides the metal parts and electronics of an eSpinner. This would be a smaller, more affordable option than any of my current models, designed specifically for those who love to tinker, customize, and build.

What’s in the Box?
This kit would include everything you need minus the custom plastic body:

• The Brains: Custom circuit board, switches, and maybe a display.
• The Muscle: A motor and power supply.
• The Hardware: A steel spindle and high-grade bearings.
• Plus some other miscellaneous parts.

Designed for 3D Printing
Instead of my usual focus on injection molding, I would design these components specifically for 3D printing.

• Open Source Files: I’ll provide the STL and Fusion 360 files for free to anyone.  The Fusion 360 files would be there for those wanting to modify the design.
• Easy Printing: These parts would be optimized for home printer, no complex supports required.
• Customization: You can print in any color, modify the frame, or even design your own unique body.  Or even build one from wood; it’s up to you.

I also expect the small businesses that already support Dreaming Robots with 3D-printed accessories would offer their own cool versions of the plastic parts for those who don’t have a printer.

Why am I doing this?
My goal is to drive innovation. By providing a reliable, standardized platform of electronics and hardware, I hope to see the community experiment with wild new eSpinner designs that I haven’t even dreamed of yet.

Where does this stand?
Right now, my primary focus remains the EEW Drum Carder. That is the top priority and where most of my energy is going. This DIY kit is currently a side project, and I want to gauge your interest before I decide how much time to invest in it.

We Need Your Feedback!
Is this something you’d want to see, or maybe you don’t? Please take a moment to fill out this short survey to help me decide if and how to move forward. Link to survey for this project.

Community & Transparency

Looking back this newsletter started as a basic monthly update email. Today, it’s become something much more interesting: a place to share the “how” and “why” behind Dreaming Robots.

I believe the most useful thing I can share is the reality of running a business.  The failures and inventory headaches alongside the wins of launching a new product. If my transparency helps even one of you improve an aspect of your life, then it’s worth highlighting my flaws!

One of my favorite things is explaining complex engineering in a way that clicks. But I want to do more highlighting of your work. If you’re working on something amazing with my tools (or fiber in general), email me! Since my inbox is usually a bit chaotic, please include “Newsletter Idea” in your email so I don’t miss it. I’d love to feature more of what this community is actually creating in upcoming newsletters.

Master the Workings of Your EEW 6.1

Ever wondered what makes your EEW 6.1 tick? This comprehensive guide walks you through the removal and installation of almost every part. Whether you need to make a quick repair or just want to master the mechanical side of your wheel, this video is your ultimate teardown and maintenance resource.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

• EEW Fold – July 2026
• EEW 6.1 – September 2026
• EEW Lazy Kate – October 2026

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Happy Spinning,
Maurice

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

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Project Update Video

I recently posted a video update with a behind-the-scenes look at what’s happening here at Dreaming Robots. In it, I talk about the EEW Drum Carder, the EEW Fold, and some other future projects I’m excited about. I added chapters to the video description to make it easy to skip around so feel free to jump straight to the parts you want to see.

Upgrades to Dreaming Robots Support

For the last decade, I’ve handled support through a simple email inbox. While I pride myself on quick, helpful responses, my email organizational system has started to show its age as our community grows. To make sure no question gets left behind, I’ve transitioned to a professional open-source ticketing system called osTicket.  I enabled this system on Febuary 10th.

How This Benefits You

While my support will still feel like a 1-on-1 conversation, this new system adds a few features to make your life easier:

• Instant Confirmation: You’ll receive an automated email within five minutes of contacting me, so you know your message reached me safely.
• Photo and Video Attachments: You can now attach images directly to the Contact Us form on the website.  A picture is perfect for troubleshooting a specific fiber or mechanical issue.
• Better Continuity: Each conversation is now linked to a unique 6-digit ID and all conversations from a single email are linked. This allows me to see your full history with Dreaming Robots, so you don’t have to repeat yourself if we’ve talked about a problem in the past.
• Human-First Interaction: I’ve worked hard to strip away the “corporate” feel of most ticketing systems. Aside from the initial confirmation, every response you get will be written by me, without extra clutter or confusing links.
• Zero No-reply Emails: I know it annoys me when you get an email with no-reply as the email address, and I’m guessing many of you feel the same.  The software I’m using tried to set things up that way, but I’ve gone through and changed everything so that all emails come from a real address you can reply to.  If by chance I missed one and you ever get an email from [email protected] please contact me and I’ll fix it.  But as far as I can tell, they’re all gone.

Why This Helps Dreaming Robots

Beyond staying organized, this change is an investment in the future of our tools.

• Reliability: This system prevents me from accidentally marking an email as “read” and forgetting it. It keeps every to-do item in plain sight until the issue is resolved.
• Scalability for Future Projects: There are complex projects I’ve been hesitant to launch like a DIY eSpinner kit or a circular knitting machine because I was worried the support load would be too high. This system gives me the infrastructure to manage those more effectively.
• Future Growth: While I’ll be handling 100% of support for the foreseeable future, this platform eventually allows me to bring on a helper to answer simple questions, freeing me up to spend more time on the complex support questions and in the workshop.

You can still reach me the same way at [email protected] or via the contact form on website.  Both of those magically go through this system with all the benefits mentioned above. I’m excited to use these tools to continue supporting your spinning and crafting journeys!

EEW Drum Carder Update from Vampy

Exciting drum carder update! One of my beta tester Vampy has shared a video highlighting what she’s been creating with the latest prototype. It’s a fun, hands-on look at how things are progressing, and a great way to see what’s new since my last update. She shows both blending some colored fibers, and processing raw fiber in her video. Check it out if you’d like an inside peek!

I get a lot of requests from people asking to be a beta testers.  Right now I hsve enough beta testers at all skill levels so I’m not looking for any additional testers.  Sorry.

EEW Cone Winder 3D Files

I released some new free 3D printable files for the EEW Cone Winder.  There is a placemen tool and an adjustable cone holder.  Check out this video for more information.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

• EEW Yarn Counter 2 – April 2026
• EEW Fold – July 2026
• EEW 6.1 – September2026

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– Maurice Ribble
Inventor of the Electric Eel Wheel Tools

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

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Latest EEW Drum Carder Prototype (January 2026)

I just released a new video showing the latest prototype of the EEW Drum Carder.

This is a great time to share your thoughts if you have ideas or features you’d like to see in an electric + manual drum carder. My goal with this project is to create the best version possible for most people while still keeping it reasonably priced. I know one of the first questions everyone has is about cost, and I hear you. Right now, I don’t have a final price to share yet. There are still several components where the final costs aren’t locked in, and I want to get that right rather than guess.

I should be able to give an estimate once the design is final and I’ve received quotes for the plastic molds. That’s also when I’ll start putting together a Kickstarter campaign, which is how I’ll be handling pre-orders. I don’t have a timeframe for the Kickstarter yet either, since I want to take the time to get things right rather than cutting corners to meet a schedule.

The plan is to do extensive testing with this prototype, gather feedback from this community, and then move on to the next revision. That next prototype should be much closer to a final design.

Thanks for being part of the journey and helping shape what this becomes.

Three Shipping Containers in Motion

This is a first for me. I’ve never had three shipping containers from my factory in progress at the same time… until now.

1. EEW Yarn Counter 2 is officially on a boat and headed toward my warehouse.
2. EEW Fold has all parts acquired, plastic parts made, and final sample approval is underway. Then assembly will start.
3. EEW 6.1 parts are purchased, and the plastic parts are queued up at the factory and getting ready to be made.

Seeing all three of these moving forward at once is both exciting and a little surreal. It’s a good reminder that none of this happens in isolation.  It’s driven by your enthusiasm, feedback, patience, and support. I’m genuinely grateful to be building these tools with this community.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

• EEW Yarn Counter 2 – April 2026
• EEW Fold – July 2026
• EEW 6.1 – September2026

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– Maurice Ribble
Inventor of the Electric Eel Wheel

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server

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Newsletter Name Change

This newsletter used to be the EEW Newsletter. I’ve decided to rename it Dreaming Robots, but it will have the same great fiber tool focused content. The new name aligns better with the fact that sometimes I share what’s happening behind the scenes at my company (Dreaming Robots).

That said, my focus remains firmly on fiber tools, now and into the future. I have so many fiber-tool ideas I’m excited to bring to life, and I can’t wait to share that journey with you.

EEW Yarn Counter 2 Available

The EEW Yarn Counter 2 is now available in my store. As a thank-you to everyone in the Dreaming Robots community who has patiently been waiting for its release, I’m offering 10% off for the first week.  I also released a short video that walks through the improvements over the previous version and shows how to use it.

What’s New in Version 2

• Magnetic sensor system – The new circuit board uses magnetic sensors instead of an optical sensor. This eliminates issues with yarn fluff blocking the sensor, reduces maintenance, and creates a more robust and reliable system overall.
• Improved disk grip – A subtle texture was added to the measuring disk to better grip slippery yarns.
• Upgraded clamp design – The new clamp features an articulating head, allowing it to securely attach to a wider variety of surfaces.
• Redesigned yarn guides – Smoother yarn flow and fewer tangles during use.

Key Features

• Accurately measures yarn length to help track usage and reduce waste
• Optional enter yarn weight for increased accuracy
• Displays measurements in yards or meters
• 1+ year battery life (uses 2 AA batteries, not included)
• Audible alert when your target yarn length is reached
• Low friction disk system works well with cobweb or bulky yarn
• One button reset for a fast workflow

I genuinely believe this is the best yarn measuring tool available at any price. While there are more expensive options out there, I haven’t seen any that match the combination of features, reliability, and convenience of this design.

I’m doing inventory a little differently for this than I typically do for new products.  Normally when I get a product in stock I get a huge number from my factory.  In this case I’m only getting 500 which were shipped to me quickly, and it wasn’t too expensive since these are smaller than my other products.  I picked that number because I think it is enough to meet the initial demand, but if it isn’t then in a few months a huge number will be arriving on a shipping container.  I hope this won’t affect anyone, but if you find it’s out of stock, do know that more are on the way.

As always, thank you for your support and for helping shape these tools through your feedback.

Inventory Woes

It’s a good problem to have, but I’m dealing with some inventory shortages again. I sold an incredible number of EEW 6.1s during the holidays.  About six months of inventory in just one month! Thank you so much for spreading the word and supporting these fiber tools.

I had already reordered back in October. All the products listed in the Product Updates section have already been ordered and are in progress with my factory. There’s currently a backlog at the small factory I’ve worked with (and trusted) for over a decade, which is causing some delays.

I have two shipments in the pipeline: EEW Folds, and EEW 6.1s. Both are fully designed and ready—it’s just a matter of production and shipping catching up. I’m hopeful we can still meet the timelines listed, and I really appreciate your patience and support.

Website Improvements Completed

Last month I mentioned that I was working on website improvements, and I’m happy to say they’re now complete. I focused on clarifying the content across the site, especially on the product pages, and worked to make the wording more concise and easier to understand. If you have any suggestions on how I can make things even clearer, I’d love to hear them.

One update I’m especially excited about is a big improvement to the replacement parts lists for all my products. I’ve added links for nearly every standard part I use—from major components like power supplies all the way down to the smallest screws. Between these standard parts and the 3D-printable parts I make available, most issues can now be resolved easily from multiple stores.

There are still a few custom components, like motors and circuit boards, that need to come directly from my website since they’re uniquely designed. But my goal is to give you as many options and as much flexibility as possible when it comes to keeping your tools running.  If you can’t tell, I’m a huge supporter of people’s right to repair their own products.

Product Updates

Below are estimates and the dates may change.

• EEW Fold – A few months after March 2026 (still confirming dates)
• EEW 6.1 – July 2026

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– Maurice Ribble
Inventor of the Electric Eel Wheel

www.DreamingRobots.com
EEW Facebook Group
EEW Ravelry Group
EEW Youtube Channel
EEW Instagram Account
EEW Discord Server