9 Apr
2025
9 Apr
'25
4:30 a.m.
On 4/8/25 21:14, The Doctor via cctalk wrote:
Would it be feasible to cut a couple of key blanks out of metal plate? Maybe metal
strips?
(I'm a CAD designer, have experience in machine shops and have done
custom metal fabrication off & on for almost 50 years)
Entirely feasible, and expensive. I had only been following this thread
casually, but I think you have the necessary information in hand. (I'm
gonna go back and reread the thread; now I'm reeled in)
You need precise (to your spec of precise - I don't know how much "slop"
is too much for a key) measurements of the overall thickness and width,
length, and the depth and width of each groove.
I'm inferring that you're not certain whether one key performs all
functions or several keys with different groove patterns will be needed.
If I were setting up for the latter, I would want all possible
configurations in hand before starting. Fixturing and securing the raw
material is a big part of the expense, so I would want the fixtures -
jigs - to allow for all needed patterns.
I have the software and the machinery needed to do this, and if I were
on your side of the water I'd love to be involved, at no cost. It's a
really interesting task.
Doc