Figure: From the Nikon Repair Manual for the F3
Since I deal with mechanical components in SLRs during every service and repair project, I set out to find more knowledge on the subject. Simply identifying that this was a gear and that was a lever wasn’t enough for me.
Since I have no engineering background, I looked for the simplest possible introduction to the topic.
The books by Thomas Tomosy
For laypeople, Thomas Tomosy’s books on camera repair among other things offer simple and understandable explanations of camera mechanics. Concepts are generally explained from a practical perspective, and the knowledge gained can be directly applied to your own DIY projects.
Issues of the SPT Journal on individual SLRs
More advanced, but still understandable to me, are the explanations of mechanical units in SLRs in the SPT Journal, specifically for each of the cameras discussed there.
Photos supplement the descriptions in the text; here, too, the focus is on the practical work that repair technicians do. Additionally, the technical terms for all parts are listed.
Varying levels of detail in manufacturers' repair manuals
Mechanical components and assemblies are also illustrated in the manufacturers’ repair manuals, though in a more concise form. This is because these manuals are aimed at already trained camera technicians who possess prior knowledge. Depending on the manual, however, there are also detailed illustrations and the corresponding technical terms.
Theory of mechanics in Mechanical Engineering
The next step leads to the question of which engineering discipline deals with mechanics as it occurs in cameras.
This is mechanical engineering, with a focus on precision mechanics.
If we add optics, electronics, and information technology to this, we enter the field of mechatronics.
From this point on, there is, on the one hand, information generally understandable to laypeople, e.g., on design, manufacturing, or machine elements.
On the other hand, understanding movements and forces in the subfield of engineering mechanics requires a solid knowledge of vector calculus and geometry. You then learn, for example, how gears are constructed in a gear train, how they mesh, and what forces and movements come into play. You also learn how to use formulas to calculate things like gear ratios.
The benefit for DIY projects comes into play when you want to analyze the mechanics in cameras and gain a better understanding of the theoretical background. For practical work, however, this is less relevant.
A good compromise is
the Repair Course from National Camera
which imparts technical knowledge for practitioners. Not only on mechanical topics, but also on electronics and optics.
That’s my take on the context in which the topic of camera mechanics operates.
What do you think about this topic? How and where do you get your information?
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