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I looked at making 3D-printed keys for my own locks, just for show (think yellow key, green key, etc). I found two issues when researching its feasibility: pri
by epoxyhockey 13y ago
I looked at making 3D-printed keys for my own locks, just for show (think yellow key, green key, etc).
I found two issues when researching its feasibility: printing accuracy and temperature range of the plastic. My results were that the lower-cost 3D printers didn't have the required precision, and more importantly, the printed plastic would simply melt if it sat in a hot car during the summer.
My research is probably out of date now, so I wonder what kind of plastic is being used these days.
- nrp 13y agoThe accuracy and precision are sufficient for some keys using low cost 3D printers. I got simple pin and tumbler and disc detainer keys working off of my RepRap.[0] It requires some knowledge of the tolerances of the specific printer and lock. For example, the disc detainer model has wider cutouts than the discs require to account for blobbing corners on the print. Using something like a Formlabs 1 printer, that probably is no longer necessary. [0]: https://github.com/nrpatel/PhysicalKeygen https://github.com/nrpatel/PhysicalKeygen
- emhart 13y agoI was fairly annoyed that Forbes failed to acknowledge the Disc Detainer work, dismissing your 3D printing like so: "though Patel’s software only dealt with normal keys that can already be duplicated by any hardware store."