Understanding How a Key Cutting Machine Works

According to statistics, over 35% of British citizens have lost their keys at one stage or another. That’s why it always helps to have a spare set of keys. However, getting a key cut is not as easy as it seems; to get the right finish, you need a specific machine for cutting keys. Now, buying a key-cutting tool for yourself is not worth the cost; it’s far better to go to a key-cutting service or, better yet, a locksmith.

Knowledge is power, though, which is why we wanted to touch on how a machine for cutting keys works. If you go to see a locksmith or hire a mobile locksmith to cut you a set of keys, you can expect the job to only take a few minutes. Why is the process so quick? For insight into how a machine for cutting keys works, we contacted Lock & Key Bradford. As expert locksmiths, we figured they would have the rundown on why these tools are so effective – and precise.

Let’s take a look at the mechanics of a key-cutting device. What does it do? How does it work? 

The Need For Precision & Accuracy In Key Cutting

The first thing to note is that when it comes to getting keys cut, accuracy is not relative. You cannot have a ‘near’ copy of your key; it has to be precise. Your locks, remember, are cut specifically for your keys. If the keys you have cut are not exact enough, then the new keys cut will not work in the lock.

Accuracy and precision, then, are so important in key cutting. As you can imagine, back in the day, when keys were cut by hand, mistakes were easy to make. Today, most machines for cutting keys are automated or at least partially automated. The need for precision means that locksmiths cannot afford to make mistakes, so they rely upon key-cutting tools that do most of the legwork.

That makes sense, too, as it helps prevent customers from getting poor-quality keys cut. It also helps to stop locksmiths from wasting resources on incompatible key replicas. It is absolutely imperative that any keys cut by a locksmith are 100% accurate, so using a machine for cutting keys makes it more likely that mistakes can be avoided; then, the locksmith only needs to tidy up to finish the job.

How does the process of key cutting work, though? What do machines for cutting keys actually do?

How Modern Key Cutting Machines Can Create Exact Copies

Given how common key cutting is as a service, locksmiths need to make sure they can get the job done correctly. Lock & Key made it clear to us that inaccuracy is simply not an option: if someone hires a locksmith, they expect quality results. Given the damage a poor-quality duplicate key can do to a lock, that makes sense!

How does the process work, then? What does a machine for cutting keys do?

Getting Started

To begin with, any locksmith will need the key that is about to be replicated. If the original master key is lost or broken beyond recognition, it can be challenging to cut a new key. An especially skilled locksmith with automatic key-cutting machinery might be able to do the job, but it’s often better to just re-key the lock at that point. 

If there is a template key to work from, though, the process is relatively simple. The next steps are determined by the type of key-cutting machine. Most locksmiths today use semi-automatic or fully automatic key-cutting machines. Manual key-cutting machines require a bit more work.

The starting process, though, is always the same: the key to be duplicated is placed in the cutting machine. This is then traced to create a precise replica from scratch.

Creating The Duplicate Key

The locksmith will now have a clear record of the original key that will be created. Experienced locksmiths can create a duplicate key even without a template, but, as we mentioned above, it’s not always the most economical choice.

The locksmith will then place the base material to be used to cut the duplicate key. This then matches the traced outline of the original key. The stylus in the key-cutting machine will trace the template’s shape; an automatic key-cutting device will then create the cut. A manual key-cutting device requires the locksmith to follow a pattern to create an identical copy.

Finishing Touches & Perfections

Once this is done, the locksmith then sets about providing the finishing touches. Sometimes, even the best automatic key-cutting machine will leave rough edges or metal spurs. The locksmith then runs over these imperfections, brushing and removing them so that you are left with an identical replica of the original key, ensuring that every edge is smooth and the same size as the original.

The time required depends on the type of key being cut and the type of key-cutting machinery used. The more complex the key and the less automated the key-cutting tool, the longer the job will take. Generally, though, you should expect a key to be cut in minutes; more expensive keys, like a safe key, can take around 25-30 minutes.

Accurate Duplicate Key Cutting: Always Use A Professional

The above should give you a clearer idea of why using a key-cutting machine is always the right choice. Trying to self-cut a key or estimate the process is far more likely to result in mistakes.

Poor-quality key duplicates can cause more harm than good. If a key is not cut to precision, then the new duplicate can actually damage your locks. The replacement key could shred the lock, or it could snap in the lock itself. It might not even fit in the first place!

Therefore, precision equipment is essential. Even a locksmith with decades of experience might find it easier to simply use a key-cutting device. Why do something by hand that is prone to error when you can use a tool to do it? This is why locksmiths can get such an accurate duplicate key. The use of professional tools virtually guarantees high-quality results, so why make life more difficult?