Lock picking trainer

prusaprinters

<p>This fun locksport model allows you to practice lockpicking without having to buy tension wrenches or lockpicks. You can use your finger on one of the protrusions from the inner plug to provide tension (simulating a tension wrench), and another finger inside the lock to manipulate the pins (just like a lock pick).</p><p>Start by printing the lock body, the lid, and the plug (supports not required). Print all 4 key pin depths. Start by printing 4 plain driver pins.</p><p>I printed everything at 0.2mm layer height with a 0.4mm nozzle in PLA.</p><p>I made springs by winding filament around a handle while heating it with a hot air gun. A space heater would also work, or some hot water; anything that will heat the filament above about 75 deg (for PLA) will allow it to deform. Once it cools, it will retain its shape and act as a spring.</p><p>Otherwise, just use a metal spring.</p><p>Start by placing the plug inside the body. Then place a key pin and a driver pin through the top of the lock body, and a spring on top, using the lid to hold it all in place. I would suggest starting by just putting in one key/driver pin to begin.</p><p>Put some light tension on the plug so that it tries to rotate against the pin, then raise the key pin using a finger on your other hand until the gap between the key pin and the driver pin is at the same height as the gap between the plug and body (the shear line). With only 1 pin, the lock should open.</p><p>Now practice with more key/driver pins. Use different key pin heights (just like a real lock). You will notice that when you tension the plug, typically only one pin will be difficult to push (binding). Start by pushing the binding pin until you reach the right height and there is a bit of movement on the lock. Then find the new pin that is binding and repeat until the lock is open.</p><p>Once you've mastered 4 pins, try with spool and serrated pins. Due to the texture and angles on these pins, the feedback is different (for instance, as you push on a spool pin the plug will have to rotate back in order to pass from the narrow waist to the wider area at the bottom of the pin (known as counter-rotation).</p><p>If this seems like a fun hobby, buy a cheap set of picks, find some old padlocks at home, and try your skills on some real locks!</p>