Key Cutting & Code Origination Flashcards
7 cards from real CPL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Key Cutting & Code Origination flashcards as text
What is the purpose of a 'spacing gauge' when originating keys by code?
Answer: To determine the correct horizontal distance between cuts on the key blade
A spacing gauge ensures each cut is positioned at the correct horizontal distance from the reference point along the key blade.
The 'MACS' (Maximum Adjacent Cut Specification) rule prevents:
Answer: Bitting combinations where adjacent cuts differ by too many depth increments, making a key inoperable
MACS limits how much adjacent cuts can differ in depth to ensure a key can physically operate a lock without binding the tumblers.
Which type of code book would a locksmith use to find the key cuts needed for a specific lock serial number?
Answer: An indirect code book that translates serial/code numbers to bitting depths
An indirect code book translates a lock's serial or code number into the actual cut depths needed to originate the key.
On a code-cutting machine, the 'index' positions represent:
Answer: The fixed spacing stops that position the key blank for each successive cut
Index positions on a code-cutting machine are precisely spaced stops that advance the key blank to the correct position for each cut.
A locksmith originating a Ford automobile key from a code uses cuts measured in what unit?
Answer: Arbitrary depth numbers (1–6 or 1–8)
Automotive key systems, including Ford, typically use arbitrary depth designations (such as 1–8) that correspond to specific physical depths defined in the manufacturer's specifications.
When a key is described as 'cut on the high side' of tolerances, this means:
Answer: The cuts are shallower than the nominal depth, reducing the key's height at each cut
Cutting on the high side means cuts are shallower (less material removed), leaving the key taller at each cut position, which can cause the key to feel stiff in the lock.
What does 'bow-to-tip' measurement ensure when setting up a key duplicator?
Answer: That the key blank's total length matches the original key being duplicated
Bow-to-tip measurement verifies that the replacement key blank has the same overall length as the original, ensuring cuts will align properly in the lock.