Kettle-Pod - the tabletop camera arm

Kettle-Pod is a camera extension arm for filming your tabletop.

It uses a kettle bell and rubber bands to hold a camera over your work area, without getting tripod legs in the frame. The heavy base allows you to move the Kettle-Pod anywhere on the desk.

The arm is counter-weighted using rubber bands. The counter-weight can be adjusted by adding/removing rubber bands and by moving the attachment point of the rubber bands.

You don't have to limit yourself to a kettle-bell; you can attach Kettle-Pod to pretty much anything with a round cross-section (36 mm OD max).

Parts list

Printed parts

• 3× arm_coupler_open.stl
• 2× arm_coupler_endcap.stl
• 1× arm_coupler_rubberband.stl
• 1× arm_coupler_pivot.stl
• 1× base_pivot.stl
• 1× base_knob.stl
• (Optional) 1× base_knob_wrench.stl for tightening the knob.
• (Optional) 1× mount_tripod.stl to mount cameras via the regular tripod screw.
• (Optional) 1× mount_handlebar.stl to mount a GoPro/action camera using its bike handlebar mount.

Vitamins

• 3× rods, 12 mm OD (thin-walled steel tube or dowel, or anything else). The length is up to you, but mine are 1 m long.
• 1× kettle bell.
• 1× hose clamp (around 27–51 mm).
• 1× M8 bolt, 60 mm or longer (or cut some all-thread rod and Loctite an M8 nut onto it)
• 2× M8 nuts.
• 3× M3 screws, 15 mm or longer.
• 6× M3 knurled inserts.
• Some string.
• 1× hook.
• Some thick rubber bands.
• (Optional) 1× 1/4-20 screw for the tripod mount.

Build instructions

1. Push the M3 inserts into the small holes in arm_coupler_endcap.
2. Slide the arm couplers onto the arms.
   • arm_coupler_pivot should be at the balance point of the rods.
   • arm_coupler_rubberband should be between the pivot and the ends of the rods.
   • arm_coupler_endcap goes on each end of the rods.
   • 'arm_coupler_open` gets spaced out between the other couplers to make the arm more rigid.
3. Screw the mount you've chosen to the endcap opposite the rubber band coupler using the M3 screws.
4. Use the hose clamp to fasten base_pivot to the handle of the kettle bell.
5. Tie string around the base of the kettle bell's handle, and then hang the hook on the string. This lets the hook self-center on the kettle bell as it is being pulled.
6. Attach the arm to the base using the M8 bolt and nut. Push the nut into the knob to make it easier to tighten it. Use the wrench to tighten it even more.
7. Loop rubber bands around arm_coupler_rubberband and onto the hook.

Using Kettle-Pod

1. Adjust the extension of the arm by sliding it along the pivot coupler.
2. Attach your camera to the mount.
3. Loosen the locking knob to allow the arm to pivot freely. Don't let your camera fall and hit the desk!
4. Balance the arm by adjusting the counter-weight. You can add/remove rubber bands, and/or move the rubber band coupler along the arm.
5. Once the arm is balanced, tighten the locking knob.