Group 10 - Kodak Flash Camera
Contents |
Executive Summary
Introduction
The purpose of the Kodak disposable camera is to capture photographs in a cheap, convenient, and affordable way. The camera has a flash feature so photographs can be taken in low light situations, and zoom for pictures taken at a distance.
Research Group Members
Before Disassembly
Chemical energy from battery- into electrical
Mechanical energy for the user- (pushing buttons, turning knobs)
Chemical reaction- film with light exposure
Flash capacitor- charge it so it will work
Product worked properly.
Initial assumption- product is made up of at least 25 parts.
Multiple types of plastic- clear, black, gray
Disassembly Procedure
1. First, the stickers located on the back cover were removed using our fingernails.
2. The back cover was then pried off with a small screwdriver and a pocket knife.
3. The battery was next component removed.
4. The rolled up film and winding spool were next to be taken out.
5. We then began working on the front of the camera. The front cover was pried off with the small screwdriver.
6. The next piece removed was the flat metal spring that holds in the double lens toggle (part 5). The double lens toggle was then removed.
7. We then popped off the little coil spring that hooks the plate that the double lens toggle mounts on (part 9), to a black connecting piece (part 1).
8. Once the spring was off the black connecting piece (part 1) and a connecting rod (part 12) fell off.
9. The tiny copper spring that connects the shutter to a fixed point on the circuit board was then taken off.
10. Dissection then began on the top of the camera. We took off a clear plastic piece (part 9), and then took off a gray plastic part (part 16).
11. Then we took the "number of pictures remaining" wheel off, the winding wheel, the winding cam, and part 32- the piece that connects the cam to the winding wheel.
12. Next we took the copper brace that holds the viewing lens in place (part 4). The viewing lens was then removed.
13. We then took off a blue plastic piece (part 9), which was located below the viewing lens.
14. We then went back to the front of the camera and pried off the toggle zoom plate (also labeled part 9) using a small screwdriver and pocket knife.
15. Then the large gray zoom lever arm (part 2) was removed and the shutter simply fell off.
16. We then removed the shutter lever (part 1) which is composed of blue plastic, as well as the spring that holds it in place.
17. Part 101, the small winding gear then fell out. This piece is simply held in place by the winding cam.
18. The circuit board was then pried off using again, the small screwdriver and pocket knife.
19. The plastic insert in the back of the camera, which is responsible for holding many of the camera’s inner components, was then removed.
20. Next, a small metal lever located in the front was removed.
21. The only component remaining was the plastic shell of the camera. The camera is completely disassembled.
Group 10 met in Furnas 621 at 11:00 AM on Friday, October 12, 2007.
The only tools used were our hands, a small screw driver, and a pocket knife. The tools were only used when a component had to be pried off.
The complete disassembly process took approximately one hour. We took extra time to study the internal components and observe how the parts fit together because the process didn't require much force. Disassembly was very simple because many of the components were simply held together by gravity and the compression of the camera's shell; most of the time components were simply falling off.

