abus secondary key set system

[Wizer]

Hi
I got a brochure from abus, and noticed something I had to read twice (more like four times).
They have this "secondary key set system", where they sell two sets of keys with one lock, and if you wish to repin the lock for the 2nd. set, all you have to do is turn your key on the lock.
Here is a link to their website:
http://www.abus-pfaffenhain.de/englisch ... itschl.htm
Does anyone know how this is made?
This could mean less work for You lockies, if it gets popular.
I´m just curious, not really going to buy the lock.

[TigerDragon]

From the description, it looks a lot like the locks described in the Foley-Belsaw course for new construction. There is a set of ball bearings in the lock that make the lock work with the first set of keys (given to the construction workers.) Once the work is done, the second set of keys is used (different cut depths) and the ball bearings fall into holes drilled/milled into the side of the plug. At this point, the new key will still operate the lock, but the old key won't.

[TigerDragon]

From the description, it looks a lot like the locks described in the Foley-Belsaw course for new construction. There is a set of ball bearings in the lock that make the lock work with the first set of keys (given to the construction workers.) Once the work is done, the second set of keys is used (different cut depths) and the ball bearings fall into holes drilled/milled into the side of the plug. At this point, the new key will still operate the lock, but the old key won't.

From the picture, it looks like this isn't the exact same mechanism. If I had to take a guess, I'd say the "first set" of keys interacts with the ball bearings on the side of the key (where there appear to be dimples in the key) rather than being lifted up with the pin stack. I see grooves in the pins, so I'm wondering if there's some kind of side bar (or other device) that interacts with those grooves and / or the ball bearings. Once the ball bearings disappear (or maybe there's something else that happens when you rotate it 360 degrees) it doesn't interact properly any more and the new key operates the lock as a standard pin tumbler, but the old key can't operate it any more.

This is all speculation on my part based on the picture provided... Someone else probably has better and more information.

[Wizer]

From the description, it looks a lot like the locks described in the Foley-Belsaw course for new construction. There is a set of ball bearings in the lock that make the lock work with the first set of keys (given to the construction workers.) Once the work is done, the second set of keys is used (different cut depths) and the ball bearings fall into holes drilled/milled into the side of the plug. At this point, the new key will still operate the lock, but the old key won't.

So in this case, if balls are all of same diameter, You could guestimate the userkey jyst by making higher cuts?

[TigerDragon]

Probably. I've never played with one, but I'd like to. I also posted that from memory, but I can pull out the books again over lunch, and confirm. My guess is that you may or may not have balls in every position, but you'd still be able to narrow the potential combinations down considerably if they aren't in every position.

[exspook]

bit like the multilock pentagon system me thinks

Dave