One such innovative technology is the SnorriCam, a camera rig that attaches to an actor’s body to capture immersive point of view shots. What started as Eiður Snorri and Einar Snorri's project to add a new angle to video production, the SnorriCam rig soon gained popularity after being used in Darren Aronofsky’s first film and eventually made its way to Hollywood blockbusters. 

In its current iteration, the SnorriCam rig comprises a standard body harness that can be fitted with many different types of camera arms for different kinds of shots and filming techniques. When commercialising this idea, Eiður turned to distributed manufacturing platform Hubs for their expertise. The collaboration not only helped Eiður speed up the development process but also reduce the manufacturing costs. 

Why CNC machining? 

A SnorriCam rig needs to safely attach to an actor’s body, allow for a dynamic range of motion, swivel and lock seamlessly, all without dropping a 5 kg camera. This requires sturdy and high tolerance stuff, which makes CNC machining the perfect fit for the job. 

“When you swing the camera back and forth, it creates an unbelievable amount of force,” says Eiður, who explains that the camera itself isn’t fixed, but can swivel for a broader range of coverage. “All the locking mechanisms had to be crazy strong to keep the camera from flying all over the place.” 

“If they were too loose, the camera would wobble, and if they were too tight, the mechanism wouldn’t fit together,” says Eiður. “You have a very expensive camera at the end of it, so it has to be perfect.” 

As a customisable, complex, and niche industry product, the rig is constantly undergoing design iterations, and the device itself comprises a huge number of metal parts that need to fit together perfectly. 

While Eiður first worked with traditional manufacturers, this approach meant having to put up with weeks of waiting for quotes and exorbitant costs. Both factors were major hindrances to perfecting the design for use and manufacturability. That’s when Eiður turned to Hubs. The ability to upload several CAD designs and compare materials and prices, significantly accelerated Eiður’s ability to innovate. 

Hubs' Design for Manufacturability (DoF) tool enabled SnorriCam to prepare its designs for production runs. “I was able to make certain parts exactly as I wanted to and also save money,” says Eiður. 

Presently, Hubs supplies all the metal parts found on the rig, including cheese plates, specialised pins, knobs and wingnuts, arms, swivel mechanisms, support cubes for the arms, and many other complex components. For time sensitive CNC projects, Hubs offers local sourcing option with lead times as short as 5 days. 

With Hubs taking care of the production, SnorriCam could focus on improving its designs. The company is also exploring the idea of a potential prosumer device that’s more affordable for smaller production companies and indie filmmakers. 

Hubs CEO Alex Cappy commented: "Many of us appreciate the visual artistry of movies but may not realise the technological advancements that make it possible. The SnorriCam is a prime example of this, demonstrating how CNC machining can be used to create impactful cinema while also saving time, money, and providing more design freedom."