Email or username:

Password:

Forgot your password?
Top-level
Tube🍂Time

i have an idea. but first i need a really good image of the keyway.

28 comments
Tube🍂Time replied to Tube🍂Time

here's a 3D model of a part that should slide right in.

Tube🍂Time replied to Tube🍂Time

it turned out pretty well, i printed it with a 0.3mm extruder on my Ender 3. it also fit the lock!

Tube🍂Time replied to Tube🍂Time

using an iterative process i wound up with this key.

Tube🍂Time replied to Tube🍂Time

looks pretty good if i do say so myself haha

Tube🍂Time replied to Tube🍂Time

the 3d-printed key fits the lock! you can see how the angle of the cuts causes the pins to rotate and orient properly.

Tube🍂Time replied to Tube🍂Time

the moment of truth: and it works! the 3d-printed key is really not quite strong enough for everyday use, but i'm quite pleased since this is the first lock that i've reverse engineered.

Elsa Star Trewyn replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime Much congratulations for that feat!

Jeff Haluska replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime Even with tumbler disassembly, I'm so surprised you got it to work.

I also wonder if it's cheaper to have a locksmith make a key from that or try to use it for a mold.

Blacksmith replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime I guess you could get a metal key cut from it at the local hardware.

Tube🍂Time replied to Blacksmith

@Blacksmithoz specialty item, i'd need to go to a locksmith

Ewen McNeill replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime your Medeco Biaxial key reverse engineering feels like something @deviantollam would be interested in. He might also be able to suggest where you could get a suitable metal blank to suit your pinning (or to suit a repinned version).

(3D printed sintered metal probably also isn’t strong enough for frequent use, but a metal key cast from the negative of your reverse engineered key model might be sufficient for light use.)

Tube🍂Time replied to Ewen

@ewenmcneill @deviantollam i found his video on the pinning tray, so that was helpful.

Deviant Ollam replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime @ewenmcneill I absolutely love what I'm seeing here.

If there are notes or files available for the working model of the key (especially given that this key way I believe may have been reused in other applications) I and others could drive great benefit from seeing that information. :-)

Absolutely awesome work, I love how you figured it out seemingly working in isolation which is doing it on hard mode. :-)

Your results are terrific and the fact that you're willing to show people and be an inspiration to others is so commendable. 👍😁👍

@tubetime @ewenmcneill I absolutely love what I'm seeing here.

If there are notes or files available for the working model of the key (especially given that this key way I believe may have been reused in other applications) I and others could drive great benefit from seeing that information. :-)

Absolutely awesome work, I love how you figured it out seemingly working in isolation which is doing it on hard mode. :-)

Tube🍂Time replied to Deviant

@deviantollam @ewenmcneill thanks for the kind words. right now it is just some random notes and a crappy solidworks file. i am not convinced i have the depths right. i also have another lock (with no key) of very similar make, so i'll probably take that one apart and compare the pinning

benjohn replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime I wonder if there's a standard metal blank that matches that? You could perhaps have a metal copy made of this plastic key at good fidelity?

Impossible Umbrella :donor: :tux: :vim: replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime Wow. This is genius. Amazing work. Thanks for sharing.

Tube🍂Time replied to Tube🍂Time

trying to get a metal blank might be hard. the IBM documentation claims it is a restricted keyway made by Medeco, custom for their computers.

arclight replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime Sounds like a job for Lock Picking Lawyer or someone with a mill and a bench grinder.

Thilo, EE 🤘🏼🇪🇺⚛🎗️ replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime Pretty impressive reverse engineering there. Impressive!
I wonder if there aren't fellow makers who could make a metal copy of your design. Apparently, you have all the dimensions and angles ready for production.

First idea would be James from Clough42 on YouTube. He seems really skilled with 3D CAE and delicate CNC machining.

UpLateGeek replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime you’ve already got a working model for an FDM printer, so I’m wondering if this would also work in a SLS metal printer? No idea what the cost of the print would be though. Or you could have a go at making a high temperature silicone mould of the key and casting it in pewter.

Dave Bittner replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime “Hello, this is the Lockpicking Lawyer…”

Tube🍂Time replied to Tube🍂Time

another day, another lock. I designed a little pinning tray to make it easier to compare pins.

Interpipes 💙 replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime neat! Could you get an outfit to print you a copy in metal with DMLS? I have no idea how much such a thing would cost

Richardus replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime it saves the day to get things working again. Very nice.

Ove Gram Nipen replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime Nice work! Now that you have the shape, it could be possible to cast it in bronze :)

UpLateGeek replied to Tube🍂Time

@tubetime put another way, the iterative process was the key.

Go Up