There are different kinds of key cutting machines. They all share the same goal of reproducing a key. The newer the style of machine, the better the accuracy of the copied key will be.
- Manual Key Cutting Machine- Places a blank key next to an original key and then applies a blade to the original key which in turn cuts out the key blank.
- Semi-Automatic Key Cutting Machine—Places the original key and a blank key in their designated areas. The original key gets traced by a micrometer which duplicates the shape on the blank key with a cobalt steel blade. Any metal burrs are cleaned off with a spinning wire brush. The machine is semi-automatic since it requires adjustment from the user.
- Automatic Key Cutting Machine—Similar to the Semi-Automatic Machine. A user loads in the two keys. This time the original key get measured twice for improved accuracy, then blades cut out the pattern on the blank key.
- Laser Key Cutting Machines—Do the same work as an Automatic Cutting machine, but uses laser beams for cutting the key. Laser Machines are used to make keys with special security designs like dimpling.
- Key Card Cutting Machines— Hotels used to use a plastic key card that had a pattern of holes punched into it. The room locks were set to these patterns so that the door would unlock. When duplicating these keys the original pattern card is inserted into the machine. The user would then adjust the machine’s hole punchers to the pattern of that card. Key cards are widely used in hotels because it makes changing the locks easy. There is no need to worry about keys or people copying keys. One just has to change the code on a card.