Medeco Keys

[cppdungeon]

Anyone know how medeco keys are made? Its a curious thing; when i look at my normal pin-tumbler keys, even the old ones show tiny striations where the cutter ran over them, but my medeco keys are entirely smooth. not even scratched by the pins!

[straightpick]

Medeco keys are cut on a special machine due to the angular cuts. They are always cut by code, not duplicated, hence there are no striations due to the lateral movement by the cutter as there is in duplication. They use a carbide cutter wheel and a fairly substantial motor (3/4 to 1 HP) for a key machine. The keys and pins are made from a special nickel silver alloy which is quite hard and long wearing. Due to the angular cuts, there is little material left on the key for the pins to drag over. Hope that helps!

[globallockytoo]

Medeco keys are cut on a special machine due to the angular cuts. They are always cut by code, not duplicated, hence there are no striations due to the lateral movement by the cutter as there is in duplication. They use a carbide cutter wheel and a fairly substantial motor (3/4 to 1 HP) for a key machine. The keys and pins are made from a special nickel silver alloy which is quite hard and long wearing. Due to the angular cuts, there is little material left on the key for the pins to drag over. Hope that helps!

there are special machines designed exclusively for Medeco, but you do not require the "special" machine. There are multiple versions of adaptors for different machines. But Medeco can be duplicated.

[straightpick]

there are special machines designed exclusively for Medeco, but you do not require the "special" machine. There are multiple versions of adaptors for different machines. But Medeco can be duplicated.

True, there are adapters and vises for the Framon, HPC, etc. for Medeco but you are still originating the keys cut by cut, not duplicating them. I am not aware of any machine where the tracing stylus and cutter are synchronized to pivot to the angles required by Medeco to allow duplicating. If you sell Medeco you use their machine. I've cut them on a Framon and a Medeco machine and if you have to cut a bunch of them you want the Medeco machine. Sort of like Best keys. You can cut them on other machined but you can't beat the precision and speed of the Best combinator. Time is money!

[globallockytoo]

there are special machines designed exclusively for Medeco, but you do not require the "special" machine. There are multiple versions of adaptors for different machines. But Medeco can be duplicated.

True, there are adapters and vises for the Framon, HPC, etc. for Medeco but you are still originating the keys cut by cut, not duplicating them. I am not aware of any machine where the tracing stylus and cutter are synchronized to pivot to the angles required by Medeco to allow duplicating. If you sell Medeco you use their machine. I've cut them on a Framon and a Medeco machine and if you have to cut a bunch of them you want the Medeco machine. Sort of like Best keys. You can cut them on other machined but you can't beat the precision and speed of the Best combinator. Time is money!

Guess you've never seen a Triax (I think thats the one)

Laser guided reader - semi auto duplication. Self adjusting jaws. Sweet machine.

[barbarian]

Rytan makes a couple of duplicating machines for Medeco keys. They seem like a pretty simple machine.

http://www.rytan.com/icons/manual/RY256 ... MANUAL.pdf

[cppdungeon]

I was just wondering how the original keys are made. Interesting stuff. Thanks guys!