There is an image processing script, that will take a picture of the key and deduce the key number, or bitting code, or "key cut code", which is an expression o

There is an image processing script, that will take a picture of the key and deduce the key number, or bitting code, or "key cut code", which is an expression of the heights for each pin. [1] [2] Then you can plug that bitting code into a script which will generate an STL model for the key. [3] I did this, except I measured the key with calibers and back-calculated the key number. I printed the key on a cheap Prusa I3 in ABS, it was not impressive in terms of resolution or strength, but it did work in my house. I carefully tested it because I thought it might break off in the lock, and it felt weak, but worked -- definitely good enough for a single covert access, or even use as an emergency backup key to hide somewhere. No fancy metal printer needed, and you could write a script to pull pictures of keys out of twitter or whatever and automate the process. [1] http://hackaday.com/2009/09/22/photographic-key-duplication/ http://hackaday.com/2009/09/22/photographic-key-duplication/ [2] http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:kxuH9jRqwjsJ:vision.ucsd.edu/~blaxton/sneakey.html+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:kxuH9jR... [3] https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:52761/ https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:52761/