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Lock Picker

codemonkey0

Great show!  BTW - I live just a mile or two from the Bodgery, so let me know if you want help with implementing this idea.  I plan on coming to an open house at the Bodgery soon.

 

Show idea - Automated Lock Picker - microcontroller based.  Place key based lock into 3d-printed cradle.  Insert tension tool and rake - both are driven by the micro-c.  Micro-c knows when lock is open by the ability to turn tension tool on servo.  Rake tool and tension tool are controlled by micro-c using methods similar to how any person would open a lock.  Raking, while placing tension on tension tool.  Remove tension to reset pins, rake again, etc...  Vibration might also be an open to set the lock pins.

 

Thanks,

Stuart

  • Wouldn't there need to be tactile feedback to know when a pin has been secured? I've made lockpicks at the Bodgery before and keep a set in my purse at all times. I'd be curious to talk more in person about this idea as I'm not sure how well it would work, but seeing it implemented would be very interesting. You should drop by on Friday or even this Sunday (We're having a Shop Improvement Day). See you around!

     

    ~Karen

  • in reply to makerkaren

    You are correct with the tactile feedback if you/the device was actually trying to pick the lock, but raking does not require picking.  It is a much more crude way of trying to open a lock.  The "rake" is moved back and forth over the pins while tension is applied. The device would know when the lock was opened when the tension tool was able to complete its turn.  This video shows how it would work (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFEa_j3D97E ).

     

    Stuart

  • in reply to makerkaren

    It might be a lot easier than you think if you were to base it on a brute force electric pick gun or bump key vibration type approach rather than the manual pick tactile feel the pins type approach. Quite a lot of locks can be opened with a gentle back and fourth sawing motion with a 'city rake' pick.

     

    Looking at this video there doesn't appear to be much tactile feedback required apart from testing to see if the cylinder can be rotated or not. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_j3tCYfnoM

     

    If you are good at miniature engineering you could perhaps take something like a Bowden cable plus linear actuator type approach where you create a universal key with a row of pin lifters and have a micro controller run through all the permutations of key profiles until it succeeds in rotating the cylinder (and sends you a text message). I suspect that it could also be done with fine compressed air jets to lift the pins.

     

    For a bonus point though, perhaps the device should be able to give you the option of cutting you a replacement key to replace the one you've just lost image 

     

    It sounds like one of these interesting engineering problem solving type projects though.