ME 2024 – Camera Dissection
Submission: team worksheet
Due: by the following class meeting
CRN_______ Team________
Do NOT add a team member’s name if they are absent or did not contribute to the solution to this
exercise. It is a violation of the Virginia Tech Honor Code to do otherwise.
Member 1________________________________
Member 2________________________________
Member 3________________________________
Member 4________________________________
Important Safety Note
In this dissection activity, you will encounter electronic components. PLEASE BE CAREFUL. There is a
risk of electric shock in this activity. DO NOT touch the circuit board with anything other than rubbergloved hands or a rubber-handled screwdriver when discharging the camera (Step 2).
Important Dissection Note
To ensure that your camera can be successfully reassembled (and thus be able to be used by future students),
please carefully follow the dissection steps below. Only disassemble the components that are listed in the
instructions.
Product Archaeology Note
As you disassemble this object, keep in mind the product archaeologist’s view. What are the global, social,
environmental, and economic impacts of this product? How did these four contexts influence the design of this
product?
Using Table 1 and Figures 1, do the following steps. ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS BELOW:
Part 1: Disassembly
1.
Take the housing of the camera apart (2 tabs on the sides, 2-3 tabs on the top and bottom; a total of
4-5 tabs). Be firm, but gentle. The pieces should come apart without breaking.
2.
DO NOT TOUCH THE CIRCUIT BOARD. Remove the battery from the camera. Note the large
capacitor has 450V across the leads. Before any dissection can be done, this capacitor must be
discharged safely. REMEMBER TO WEAR SAFETY GLASSES.
a. Electrolytic capacitors can hold their charge for a surprisingly long time, and they also exhibit
"dielectric soak" where they appear to 'recharge' themselves. For these reasons, you must
always discharge the flash capacitor before you start working with the board, even if it’s been
unused for a long time (the capacitor can store up to 50V even after the battery has been
removed).
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b. Hold a large screwdriver by the plastic handle and touch both capacitor leads (identified by a red
circle on Figures 2a, 3a, & 4a). If your capacitor was holding a charge, there will be a large pop
and flash as 3300uF discharges across the screwdriver tip. The safety glasses protect your
eyes from flying sparks and/or hot solder.
3.
Explore the camera without taking it apart further. Experiment with the camera to make it “take a
picture” (i.e., it clicks when you depress the trigger).
Table 1. Part Number & Name
NO
1
3
4
5
7
8
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
20
Figure 1. General Camera Exploded View
PART NAME
Frame
Top Cover
Metering Lever
Counter Wheel
Rear Baffle
Shutter Blade
Trigger Latch
Thumbwheel
Cam
Aperture
Front Baffle
Shutter Spring
High Energy Lever Spring
Sprocket
High Energy Lever
Part 2. Function Analysis
 Discover how the camera takes a picture and describe how it works.
 As you work, label the parts of your camera on the corresponding figure
(Figure 2: Fun Saver; Figure 3: Power Flash; Figure 4: Zoom).
4.
Remove the Viewfinder and the Top Cover.
5.
Remove the Counter Wheel.
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6.
Describe how the trigger latch is loaded and readied to take a picture. Start with “the user rotates the
thumbwheel…” Hint: Look at Figures 2b & 2c.

The user rotates the thumbwheel

This winds the film into the canister.

The teeth in the film rotate the sprocket

The sprocket drives the cam which engages the metering lever and the counter wheel.

The metering lever pushes the high energy lever into position.

The lever is held into place (against the force of the high energy lever spring) by the trigger.

Once the trigger is pressed, the high energy lever is released.
7.
Remove the lens assembly.
8.
How does the shutter work? What determines the exposure time? (Hint: look at Figures 2a, 5a, and
5b; Note: DO NOT disassemble the lens assembly on the Power Flash and Zoom cameras)
Fundamentally, exposure time is determined by the time the shutter blade is left open over the aperture during
the “click.” In the case of this mechanism, the exposure time is primarily dictated by the force of the “high energy
lever” (tied to the “high energy lever spring”) and the spring constant of the shutter spring
9.
Remove the Cam and Metering Lever.
10.
Remove High Energy Lever. Take note of the position of the high energy lever spring. But DO NOT
remove the Shutter Spring.
11.
What is the purpose of the capacitor?
The flash circuit stores a high-voltage charge (received from the battery) in a large capacitor. Like a battery,
the capacitor holds the charge until it's hooked up to a closed circuit (i.e., once the picture is taken). The
capacitor allows the camera to create a bright flash (which requires a lot of energy) with a small power
source.
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High Energy
Level Spring
High Energy
Shutter Spring
Lever
Shutter
Blade
Flash
Taking Lens
Front Baffle
Figure 2a. Fun Saver Front View
Sprocket
Frame
Figure 2b. Fun Saver Back View
Thumbwheel
Counter
Wheel
Metering Lever
Cam
View Finder
Top Cover
Figure 2c. Fun Saver Side View
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Film
High Energy
Level Spring
High Energy
Lever
Shutter Spring
Shutter
Blade
Flash
Taking Lens
Front Baffle
Figure 3a. Power Flash Front View
Frame
Sprocket
Film
Figure 3b. Power Flash Back View
Thumbwheel
Counter
Wheel
Cam
Metering Lever
View Finder
Top Cover
Figure 3c. Power Flash Top View
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High Energy
Level Spring
High Energy Shutter Spring
Lever
Shutter
Blade
Flash
Taking Lens
Front Baffle
Figure 4a. Zoom Front View
Frame
Sprocket
Film Case
Figure 4b. Zoom Back View
Thumbwheel
Counter
Wheel
Cam
Metering Lever
View Finder
Top Cover
Figure 4c. Zoom Top View
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Part 3. Product Architecture Analysis (to be done together as a class)
12.
Work together as a class to identify the components of the different cameras that are identical.
Complete Table 2 by marking an “X” to identify the parts that are common between the different
products.
Table 2. Common Part Analysis
Part Name
Fun Saver vs.
Power Flash
Frame
X
Part NO.
1
Fun Saver vs.
Zoom
Power Flash
vs. Zoom
Front Cover
13.
Back Cover
X?
View Finder
X
3
Top Cover
X
X
X
4
Metering Lever
X
X
X
5
Counter Wheel
X
X
X
10
Trigger Latch
X
X
X
11
Thumbwheel
X
X
X
12
Cam
X
X
X
13
Front Baffle
X
14
Taking Lens
X
15
Shutter Spring
X
X
X
16
High Energy Lever
Spring
X
X
X
17
Sprocket
X
X
X
How is variety offered in this product family? Identify the “chunks” that make up the camera
architecture.
Variety is offered by different flash types and different lens types.
Possible chunks:
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Power supply
Casing (front & back)
Frame
Flash (flash, circuit board, capacitor)
Lens (lens assembly: baffle, lens, etc)
“Picture taking” chunk (shutter blade, springs, wheels, cam, sprocket, etc.)
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14.
Consider the task of manufacturing these different cameras:
a. How are the plastic components made?
Injection molding
b. What benefits does product architecture offer when producing these cameras? What are the
economic reasons for this design decision?
Product architecture = common parts. Common parts = reduced tooling for fabricating different parts.
By minimizing part variety, you are reducing total tooling (and inventory). This reduces fabrication
costs.
Part 4. Green Engineering Analysis and Reassembly
As you reassemble each camera, take some time to think about the environmental factors that influenced the
cameras’ design.
15.
Identify two ways in which the camera design satisfies the “12 Principles of Green Engineering.”
Describe how the camera design satisfies these two principles.
Possible answers:
Principle 3: Design for separation: No single piece of the camera is bonded with an adhesive or
permanent bond. They can be disassembled without a tool.
Principle 7: Durability rather than immortality: Cameras aren’t designed to last forever. They are
designed to maintained, repaired, and recycled.
Principle 8: Meet need, minimize excess: Cameras are not designed to produce the highest quality
picture. They meet the need. Product family allows customer to select the product that closely
matches their needs (instead of offering just one “over-engineered” camera.
Principle 9: Minimize material diversity: Majority of the camera is made from the same plastic.
Similar parts across the product family are made from the same materials (and often from the same
mold).
Principle 11: Design for commercial ‘afterlife’: The camera is designed for a recycling/reuse program.
Modular design allows for future product improvements.
16.
Describe why Kodak might have wanted the camera design to satisfy the principles you identified.
(think in terms of both environmental and economic reasons)
Note to grader: We will discuss this in class – there is a wide room for answers here. Grade mainly
for effort
Principle 3: Design for separation: Different materials can easily be separated for recylcing
Principle 7: Durability rather than immortality: They are designed to maintained, repaired, and
recycled. Provide
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Principle 8: Meet need, minimize excess: meeting the need means less superfluous components
and less raw materials/waste
Principle 9: Minimize material diversity: Similar parts across the product family are made from the
same materials (and often from the same mold). Reduces cost and increases modularity
Principle 11: Design for commercial ‘afterlife’: The camera is designed for a recycling/reuse program.
Modular design allows for future product improvements. This is good for both economic and
environmental reasons
In addition, the why’s behind the why’s are also important: i.e., external pressures from
environmental groups, problems of pollution, etc
Part 5. As a System in Society
17.
Think of the societal factors that influenced the design of this product:
Note to grader: We will discuss this in class – there is a wide room for answers here. Grade mainly
for effort
a. What need did disposable cameras fill during the time of their invention (circa 1990)? Why did
people want them (i.e., for what uses/occasions)?
At first, portable cameras were expensive and were only owned by enthusiasts. This provide a
low point of entry to picture taking. Eventually it became a point of convenience. You could
purchase a camera at the time/location when/where it was needed. No need to travel with a
camera; just buy one when you get there. Finally, it has been relegated to occasions (e.g.,
weddings) where you want the point-of-view of participants, and wanted to have the pictures that
they took. Instead of having to ask for them later, you can buy cheap cameras for everyone to
use and return to you.
b. Does that need still exist? How has society’s use of cameras changed since then?
Digital has changed picture taking, storage, and sharing. Camera phones have changed
portability. Facebook and Instagram have changed picture sharing.
c. How much of a market for these products still exists? What do you think the future holds for
disposable cameras?
Water-proof cameras still have a niche market.
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