Impressioning with a 3D printed blank

[sisk]

So I've got this whacky (as in totally insane) idea that I'm curious if anyone else has tried: impressioning a lock with a 3D printed blank. My thoughts are that while it couldn't take the force you normally put on a key during the impressioning process it might not need to. The plastic would take marks much more easily than a metal key, so you might be able to do it with just what pressure you could apply to a key normally.

I'd like to try it, but my attempts at impressioning a lock have thus far all been utter failures. Has anyone who's actually able to impression a lock the normal way ever tried this? Or is it as insane an idea as I think it is?

[GWiens2001]

I printed a blank very thin, and used a soldering iron to cut out a slot and used a tension wrench to work the core back and forth to self impression the lock open.

Only tried it once, but it worked. Maybe it was luck, maybe not.

Gordon

[jwrm22]

I've got no clue on how well it will work.

Give it a try.
If it works you have something fun. If it does not work you've learned something.

[demux]

Interesting idea, but I'd be concerned the plastic blank would be inclined to break under the stress. A blank made of a relatively soft metal might have better luck...

[GWiens2001]

Interesting idea, but I'd be concerned the plastic blank would be inclined to break under the stress. A blank made of a relatively soft metal might have better luck...

Yep. That is why I cut a slot so I could fit in a tension wrench, and self impressioned. Didn’t want to be fishing out broken plastic shards.

Gordon