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CNC proprietary key ?

PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 4:51 am
by nemop3
Recently the lock on one of our properties needed replacing, but the company went bust during the pandemic. Moreover, the manufacturer that made the blanks went bust as well. SO all that remains are the clients, which were bought up and will have to migrate over time.

The trouble is that the key is a proprietary one, so you can see the issue.

Out of pure interest, in such a situation, could the key be scanned in 3D and then a CNC'd copy be made ?

The company was Market Lock & Safe:

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Re: CNC proprietary key ?

PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 6:18 am
by Technical Entry
Sure, measure the key and make it with manual machines. You could do it with a small lathe. By scanning I presume you mean point cloud creation? Total not necessary for such a simple shape.

cheers,
TE

Re: CNC proprietary key ?

PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 6:26 am
by nemop3
CNC works off digital data points, letting the machine do the work, but I didn't consider myself skilled enough to do it manually.

Thanks for the confirmation.

Re: CNC proprietary key ?

PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 12:13 pm
by Technical Entry
nemop3 wrote:CNC works off digital data points, letting the machine do the work, but I didn't consider myself skilled enough to do it manually.

Thanks for the confirmation.


CNC means computer numerical control - often this means in reality for the operator Gcode commands. Digital data points in relation to 'scanning' is something else. First learn manual machining then start with CNC machining. CNC machining is not easier than manual machining...

Re: CNC proprietary key ?

PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2023 10:21 pm
by Visitor
There are a few key machines that also machine the blank as well. The more well known one being the easi entry machine. There are others.
If there are enough blanks needed they can also be cast quite easily in brass but it can be costly.

Scanned and cnc machined by a key scanning and machining machine, yes and quite cheaply. Scanned and cnc machined using regular engineering cnc tools yes but extremely costly (more than a key scanning and machining machine if commervially requested).

Made using a regular manual horizontal mill with the correct bits, yes and quite cost effective especially if you're doing them yourself.

Look through the key catalogues, I dare say there's alternatives to that key, maybe some you can modify and most probably some that bypass those wards.

In a commercial setting, as you've already realised, the full suites will need to be changed.