DOM dimple cam lock - breakdown images

[digital_blue]

For your enjoyment, here are some breakdown photos I've taken of a DOM dimple cam lock.

As you can see in the images, this is a nice little lock which offers a good amount of pick resistance. There locks I have are all keyed alike, so I am not sure just what variations occur in terms of numbers of pins on the side and bottom of the plug. In my locks, there are two rows five pins along the top of the plug. There are, in addition, positions for 6 side pins and 5 bottom pins. In my locks, only two side positions and and two bottom positions are filled. These side and bottom pins are not spring-biased. They do, however, interact with grooves cut in the side and bottom of the shell. The interesting thing about this design is that they really don't effect picking at all. These are one piece pins, not separated pin stacks as the top pins are. Since both the pins and groves are bevelled, there is nothing to stop the pins from retracting into the plug. Only if the incorrect key is inserted will these pins block rotation of the plug.

There are really two factors that I've found make this lock a tricky pick. First is the shape of the bottom pins (speaking now of primary pins, not the check pins in the bottom of the plug). The chiseled shape makes the pins difficult to interact with. When sitting the lock, the chiseled edge of these bottom pins runs parallel with the direction of the keyway. This chiseled point means that the effective surface area of the pin is reduced, leaving you with little to contact with the pick. Also, due to the nature of the shape, a thin pick slips off the pin quite easily.

The second factor is the wards that run down the keyway. These wards make using a traditional matador rake pretty ineffective, due to the width of the tool. I've made some custom matadors that are much narrower, and in fact, one that has a notch cut in it specifically to accommodate the wards, but it is awkward to set pins none the less.

I have only made one attempt at a bump key thus far, and not had any luck with it as of yet. After repeated attempts to bump the lock, close examination of my key lead me to believe that the angle of cut on my standard drill bits may be too steep. Also, the chiseled edges of the pins tear into the key pretty badly after repeated bumping. For a while I thought this may play in my favor, and I get the impression that it has helped in some way, but not enough that I've been able to actually bump the lock open so far.

Anyway, enough with the blabber: on with the photos. I took these shots with my Canon Rebel XT 8.0MP. The lighting could have been better, but lacking a lightbox, this was what I came up with.

Cheers!

db

[raimundo]

dont ya just love the way they make pins that have an edge to keep them from rotating so that the pins can sit off center, have you tried any bumping on this?

[zeke79]

Just in case anyone has not seen this http://www.toool.nl/dom-ix.pdf I will post it. There is some very good information about DOM IX locks and their progression.

[wtf|pickproof?]

IMHO the passive secondary pins make bumping this lock hard to impossible unless you enlarge the grooves for the passive pins so they can sink into the core even if the key isn't inserted to the correct depth.

(I have experienced similar problems when trying to bump a winkhaus lock which had the same type of passive pins. On the other hand, this might be due to beeing my first try to make a bumpkey )

just my 0,02 €

[seed]

that looks like a nightmare

[atrix]

It is very nightmare lock
I such would not open
It can be opened with pick?

[eViLZuG]

:shock:
It is very nightmare lock
I such would not open
It can be opened with pick?

Good luck trying to pick all those pins
They look like a redundant security measure, not to mention used as more of a primary with the other set. I could prolly fab a pick for that, but I'd need exact dimentions down to the .001", because those pins look a little finicky

Too bad don't live at home anymore, I'd prolly try and fab a pick for that lock

[awoodby]

Thanks for the pics, hadn't seen the inside of one of these. I've felt around inside them and they feel...wierd/busy. Needless to say I had absolutely no success lol

I'll have to pick one of these up.

Thanks again,

--Alex

[maxxed]

I have a 10 pin dimple camlock that has the pins on center 5 on top and 5 on bottom. This one picks well with a bogatta rake on it's side

[LockNewbie21]

Matadors anyone?

That really is a sweet piece you got there josh.

I never had the pleasure of going at a dimple lock, I will avoid the headacke for as long as possible.. or a good deal on eaby come up.

[raimundo]

So it needs a custom pick or picks, that's not really that hard to do, I wouldnt think, take some pointers from the key and then strip off all the unnesscesary thickness til you have a skeleton of the key, going straight to the pins, and as for slipping off, make that pick tip a spoon that dosent let them slip away, I don't have the lock here but I think that a custom pick wouldnt be too hard to envision.

[raimundo]

I just noticed that the cylinder has three grooves in it as if for a sidebar, whats up with that db?

[mh]

I just noticed that the cylinder has three grooves in it as if for a sidebar, whats up with that db?

No sidebars, but the DOM ix can have passive profile checks, you can see one row of holes for that in the plug.
Those were the very simple checks that also tested positive when all the profile was removed.

Cheers,
mh

[Eyes_Only]

Is ebay the only place you can buy a DOM lock or something? I swear it is a headache trying to find distributors for this lock.

[Rickthepick]

Came across one of these in a mates shop today and had a quick attempt.

I couldnt pick it but i got the plug to turn slightly so must have been close. Theres a floating ballbearing in the end of the key, not quite sure what it does couldnt work it out.

He wouldnt let me take the lock away so no pics sorry.

Has anyone managed to pick one?