Inside the Super8 Cartridge
The Secret is revealed!
 

            Here are pictures of what the Super8 Cartridge looks like inside.  The inside part of the Cartridge simply slips into grooves on the outer Case.  These two parts would then be sealed together with heat.  There are the Supply Chamber in the front half, and the Take-up Chamber  in the back portion containing the Spool and Clutch.  The Film in the Supply Chamber is not connected to anything.  It is just coiled-up, and rotates as it unwinds.  It is sitting against a Plastic Disc behind it which helps it unwind.  As you can see it is a very tight path for the Film to travel -- especially after the Film Gate.  For the Sprocket Arm on the Camera to pull the Film down is not the difficult part.  The real challenge is to push the Film down through the two bottom corners into the Take-up Chamber.  It's asking a lot to ask this Cartridge to function well at 24 Frames per Second.  In the Take-up Chamber, whenever it runs out of slack Film, there is only one post to inhibit the Spool from tugging on the Film coming down.  If the Clutch on the Camera is too tight, the Film will be tugged in the Film Gate.  The Pressure Plate cannot prevent this.  With everything being as it should, this Cartridge does work superbly at 18 Frames per Second.  If it works at 24f/s, be grateful!  I hope you enjoy this learning experience.
 
Mr. Terry Mester

The Supply Chamber
For another View (CLICK)

The Film goes around this Roller Pin at the top left corner to travel along the top track.


The Film laterally shifts from the front half to the back half of the Cartridge as it exits down the right corner.  You can rotate the picture 90 Degrees clockwise for upright image.


Plastic Tray

Empty View

The Edge

This is the bottom edge after the Film has passed the Pressure Plate.

The Case
This is the moderately curved bottom corner of the Case to guide the Film through the bottom Track.

Inside View of the Case

The Pressure Plate
Front View

Back View

Side View

The Take-up Chamber

The Spool turns clockwise.  The Post in the right corner inhibits tugging on the Film.

And that's it.  The rest is in the Camera.

 
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v. 7.28.2008
 
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