by Svensontini » 20 Apr 2018 20:41
Hi Guys,
My basic problem is that I work with a Corbin Russwin system using mostly the 981 keyway. Rather than use CR pins it uses a generic LAB .005" pinning kit and the key pinnings are all over the place, they didn't just choose 10 or fewer, they've chose from all the 135 steps between .203" and 338". I think this is because they freehanded cuts and then just pinned to match it.
This of course leads to some problems and really makes masterpinning difficult. I'd like to bring the system back to something more sensible, and have masterpinning as a viable option.
I'd like to stick with the .005" kit though rather than convert to using CR pins.
Mixed in with all of this is a Blitz machine...new, and unused! One of the managers bought it years ago and the Locksmith at the time had no interest in it. The one who replaced him is also not interested.
I -AM- interested in it though! I think bringing some accuracy and the ability to create and cut any key profile to the system can only be a good thing.
The issue is that the Blitz cards are geared for the CR pins. The micrometer card could be used, but it isn't convenient, plus I'm low vision (yeah, a blind lock guy - let the comedy ensue! I'm low vision, not NO vision, and I get most things pulled off, but I try to make things as easy as possible).
The HPC CardWare and other programs tout the ability to make custom cards so that's why I purchased the CardWare program.
I was quickly overwhelmed though - no user guides, etc. are available. There is a help file and it even has some illustrations, but they don't pull up on my machine. They are there, I can find them in the install folder, it must be some pathing issue or something. Contacting HPC for help netted NO response what so ever.
Fortunately the software comes with a backup and restore ability, so I backed it up in the just installed state and figured if I messed it up I could easily start over. I finally dug into it a couple nights ago...and I got it figured out!!!
Here's a quick overview, if there's interest I could even doa write up with screenshots and stuff.
*) Click on the fifth icon from the left, (if you hover over it it'll say "add and modify custom code series and depth and space data (DSD)").
*) Click on the DSD Info tab.
*) Enter 358 for the DSD number for the 981 keyway Russwin locks I'm working with, then copy all the settings down.
*) Custom entries are only allowed for DSD numbers 900 to 999, so enter one that's empty, 900 if it's your first custom entry.
*) Now enter all the info you copied from DSD 358.
*) Edit the spacing info to reflect the number of pins in the key profile you're printing a card for.
*) If your using a system that more reflects a factory system with small number of pins, just enter your depth info.
*) For our system I just print a card for each key I'm interested in making. I delete the depth info for 0, then enter the depth infos and I put the depth info relative to the cut number, so when the card prints you just go to cut 1 then depth 1, cut 2 then depth 2, etc..
*) You have to click on save new before you can print a card.
*) Then click on print card.
This works perfect, but some of our key profiles have cuts that are the same or very close to each other so the depth numbers cover over each other. I'll just do a scan and edit the card image for clarity and then print to card stock.
Questions? Feel free to ask, I'll do my best to answer (remember, I'm just learning!)
Steve