I had an UNPICKABLE lock idea...

[Olson Burry]

UNPICKABLE LOCK IDEA 3
-THREE of these keys have to be inserted and rotated at the same time for the door to open.

Does anyone else see an issue here?

[datagram]

I saw a French lock a few years ago that had four rows of pins, two on top two on bottom. The key looked like an "H" is cross-section.

I think you are thinking of the Fichet 480 or similar model, which is a (very cool) wafer lock.

http://agentddr999.googlepages.com/fichet480

dg

[jerrasis]

I saw a French lock a few years ago that had four rows of pins, two on top two on bottom. The key looked like an "H" is cross-section.

I think you are thinking of the Fichet 480 or similar model, which is a (very cool) wafer lock.

http://agentddr999.googlepages.com/fichet480

dg

That is a great looking lock.

[bluefish6900]

I like the magnet idea too. but there are some questions that i can't answer or even know enough about magnetic fields too ask.
But taking for granted that this DID work. If you have a closed in cylinder of Brass/Alum or any other non magnetic material with a hole, the shape can be just about any as long as the "key" goes in in the right direction.
The magnetic field will push or pull pins/bars/rods to the configuration needed to allow the cylinder to turn.
As far as the magnet degrading over time, If it's a high security lock then someone's paying big money for it to start with, the selling company can set up a program that the locks are maintained by the selling company under contract. Just have to give them a check up after so much time. 3/6/12 months.

[veecrawn]

I like the magnet idea too. but there are some questions that i can't answer or even know enough about magnetic fields too ask.
But taking for granted that this DID work. If you have a closed in cylinder of Brass/Alum or any other non magnetic material with a hole, the shape can be just about any as long as the "key" goes in in the right direction.
The magnetic field will push or pull pins/bars/rods to the configuration needed to allow the cylinder to turn.
As far as the magnet degrading over time, If it's a high security lock then someone's paying big money for it to start with, the selling company can set up a program that the locks are maintained by the selling company under contract. Just have to give them a check up after so much time. 3/6/12 months.

I would go with perfectly timed earth magnet. These remain identically magnetic for 10 years.

[unlisted]

I like the magnet idea too. but there are some questions that i can't answer or even know enough about magnetic fields too ask.
But taking for granted that this DID work. If you have a closed in cylinder of Brass/Alum or any other non magnetic material with a hole, the shape can be just about any as long as the "key" goes in in the right direction.
The magnetic field will push or pull pins/bars/rods to the configuration needed to allow the cylinder to turn.
As far as the magnet degrading over time, If it's a high security lock then someone's paying big money for it to start with, the selling company can set up a program that the locks are maintained by the selling company under contract. Just have to give them a check up after so much time. 3/6/12 months.

I would go with perfectly timed earth magnet. These remain identically magnetic for 10 years.

Only issue would be if something got near it to demagnetize it.. or flip a polarity, which is rather easy in this day and age.. (think car stereo, I've made quite a few cards/magnets worthless before)

[bluefish6900]

Do Electromagnets have the same issue?

[jerrasis]

Do Electromagnets have the same issue?

I wouldn't think so but the energy bill would be quite high.

[bluefish6900]

Could you have some type of balanced field that if an outside magnetic source was introduced that the energy would only turn on then?

[jerrasis]

This just sounds costly and over done. Not worth it's worth.

[bluefish6900]

yes true, pretty easy to get carried away!!

[sevedus]

Regarding those magnets.

You can get terrific force between Samarium/Cobalt magnets of very small size. A pair of ring magnets as small as 0.050 O.D. /0.032 I.D. (inches) can pull up to 25 gms at full face contact but the force of attraction (or repulsion) falls off in a non-linear way as the gap between the magnets increases. With an air gap of only 0.003/0.004 inches the force falls off to 4-5 gms. This is still plenty to move a small object.

I'm not convinced that this is really an impediment, if the mechanism is large because the magnets need to be large enough I don't see the problem because there's still nothing to manipulate. I could see the lock (at some point) having no keyway at all...the lock would open when the correct key (I envision a flat card with magnetic inserts) is wiped across the correct flat surface on the lock in the correct direction, (this could be made velocity sensitive as well, so that to slow and it fails..too fast and it fails).

[completia]

-- For the six row of pins idea: this wouldn't work. Your cylinder wouldn't turn at all. You could add a sheet with holes that the key would fit exactly but that would be insanely complex, and costly, not counting the key is going to be huge, heavy, and hard to manipulate. Finally this system has other obvious inconveniences.

[Legion303]

What do you say?

I say I'm going to start deleting your obvious fail posts.

-steve

[greyman]

I saw a French lock a few years ago that had four rows of pins, two on top two on bottom. The key looked like an "H" is cross-section.

I think you are thinking of the Fichet 480 or similar model, which is a (very cool) wafer lock.

http://agentddr999.googlepages.com/fichet480

dg

There is also a write-up of the Fichet 484 in my book on high security locks (see my signature). Sorry if you already knew that.


N2oah's site is good. Nice photos
greyman