A parametric model to 3D print housekeys from photos

Cory Doctorow 7:30 am Sun Oct 15, 2017

It's been nearly a decade since the first proof-of-concept demos showing that keys could be reproduced on 3D printers from distant, angled photos surfaced, and six years since the first parametric Openscad models that could turn easy key-measurements into working house-keys appeared.

There have been a lot of exciting developments in 3D printed keys in the years since.

Now, Dave Pedu has released another Openscad model that can produce any ubiquitous Kwitset house-key from a photo using easy-to-enter parameters on a 3D printer.

I've seen a bunch of kiosks that produce keys on demand from photos or keys, and I assume they work the same way.

Rather than simply duplicating an existing key, [Dave] created a parametric key blank in OpenSCAD; he just enters his pin settings and the model generator creates the print file. He printed ABS on a glass plate with a schmeer of acetone on it, and .15mm layer heights. Another reason [Dave] chose Kwikset is that the one he had was super old and super loose — he theorizes that a newer, tighter lock might simply break the key.

So, a reminder: Don’t post a picture of your keys on the socials since at this point it’s certainly possible to script the entire process from selecting a picture to pulling the key off the print bed.

3D-PRINTED KWIKSET KEYS PARAMETRICALLY
[John Baichtal/Hackaday]

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