Open sourcing our WDT Tool with ball bearings

Today, we are excited to announce that our popular WDT tool with ball bearings, based on the Umikot design, is now available for free as open source on Thingiverse. Spirographic WDT Tools have revolutionized the way we make coffee and we encourage you to give it a try as part of your shot preparation routine.

For us, this comes as a first step to focus on our upcoming product launches with our Custom Drip Tray for the La Marzocco Linea Micra and our RoastReserve Single Dosing Containers plus other ideas we have in mind. However, we recognize that our WDT tool – being the first 3D printed, ball bearing equipped WDT tool on the market – has been very popular among coffee enthusiasts, and we want to make sure that it remains accessible to everyone who wants to use it. By making the tool available as open source, we are ensuring that it will continue to be available to coffee lovers around the world.

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments.

I have uploaded the 3D printer files needed for this assembly here on Thingiverse.

For assembly, you will need (besides 3D printed parts):

1. Acupuncture Needles: 0.35x60mm – e.g. Amazon (affiliate link) or Aliexpress
2. Bearings: MR63-2RS 3x6x2.5mm – e.g. Amazon (affiliate link) or Aliexpress
3. Screws: M3, 20mm X10pcs – e.g. Amazon (affiliate link) or Aliexpress

Your new WDT tool is ready to use and very low maintenance. Remnants of coffee grinds should ideally be removed from the gears regularly with a clean brush. Water should only be used very sparingly, if at all, so as not to cause lasting damage to the ball bearings.

Should your WDT tool ever be a little sluggish, I recommend that you put a small drop of vegetable oil (e.g. sunflower or olive oil) in the space between the gears and then rotate it a few times. The new oil film provides the usual smoothness again.

If you ever need to replace one or more of the WDT needles, proceed as follows:

1. loosen the Allen screws (H2.0 bit) on the top side.
2. lift off the “spin ring” (be careful during the next steps so that the gears do not move)
3. you can now push up the needle(s) to be removed from the top
4. insert the new needle(s), carefully put the “spin ring” back on and screw it in place

When not in use, always place the WDT tool on the base, as the needles are very sharp and can bend.