Degrees of movement in locking element

[snake_wrangler]

So, in a normal pin-tumbler lock, each locking element (pin) has 1 degree of movement, namely up-down (z-axis, lets say)

A medeco (like a biaxial or m3) has 2, namely z-axis and rotation. But they have separate mechanical processes. So, you pick to shear line, then pick the sidebar.

In a medeco cam lock you have 2 degrees of movement that aren't separate. You have to lift and rotate at the same time since the mechanical mechanism is the same for both (there is a slot in the pin to let the sidebar in)

Which leads me to think that you could develop a system with 3 degrees of freedom (say z,rotation and x) or even 4 (x,y,z, and rotation) (or up to 6 if you want to get really crazy)

My first idea involves using a spherical "pin"



The slot on the front (which should be more to the side) would allow a side bar to drop. The pin has freedom of movement in the z-axis ( it would be held by a spring in a driverless sidebar arrangement). It has freedom of rotation around the z and y axis, where z is up and down, y is left and right and, and x is the direction the key is inserted. I imagine the key would look something like a laser cut key, with the grooves being variable depth.

You would have to limit the motion somewhat. I haven't figured out the details. And the thing would be a nightmare to produce. But, if we can find an efficient way to increase the degrees of freedom per locking element I think it would make mechanical locks that much more difficult to pick.

[C locked]

Take the medeco camlock (60 series?) idea. Stick each pin in a pin holder that moves forward or back slightly. So where medeco biaxial has set fore cut or aft cut pin and shows in the position the pin sits on the cut of the key. The position ie spacing of the keys cuts are either fore or aft.
would be a real issue making something capable of doing that without a. making the plug Look like swiss cheese. And b. Really suseptable to brute force damaging the lock beyond the key working it.

[C locked]

Rereading your original post. I think i was on a tangent.
using the "ball end finger pin" you would have 2 axis' fore/aft rotation, up/down rotation. To have a functional depth you would haveto have the depth of the hole the sidebar finger fits in vary. the problem with that. Any movement of the key would munch the sidebar fingers. Unless the sidebar was engaged/disengaged by a pivot as the key was fully inserted. Or a key retention mechanism was.