Well, here's the basics you can see from this pic:
What holds the lock shut are the pins, which you can see on the left. Each pin is spring-loaded, with a break partway along the length. The pins are set with the breaks at different lengths, so that each pin needs to be pushed in a different amount to align the breaks.
These are what match the 'notches' carved along the length of the key; when you put the key into the lock, each notch matches a pin and pushes it in by the proper amount. If it's the right key with the notches cut to the right height and pattern, the breaks match up when you insert the key.
The pins are set in a cylinder; when the breaks align, the cylinder will turn, and the lock will open.
(When a locksmith re-keys the lock, they put a new set of pins in, with differing lengths; so putting the old key in will move the pins to positions where the breaks won't align.)
I used to own lockpicks and a transparent practice lock, and even when you can see what's going on in there, picking a lock is really hard! (I bought the set at Sirens after a lockpicking workshop--unfortunately, the set didn't survive the flood.) I started reading the MIT Guide to Lock Picking [PDF] once, but it's pretty technical and rather intimidating!
Speaking of pretty technical and rather intimidating, I just got a book I'm tempted to send you when I'm done with it. ^^;; It's a history of camera lens design, by Rudolf Kingslake, apparently one of the leading lights of the field; I've made it through Chapter 1 so far, and there's a lot of interesting stuff, but it's heavy enough on math that I'm regretting the two-decade gap in my studies. *sheepish look*
(Yes, I wouldn't really do it, given the 'no solicitation' rule... still tempting, though. ^_- )
It's a kind thought, but it's probably over my head! I'm not afraid of math, but if it's lenses, that probably gets into physics/optics. (I bet Joe would have a pretty good idea, though, because optics is one of the things he deals with with respect to the interferometer.) And God knows my to-read pile just keeps getting bigger and bigger...XD
Heh. Yeah... also read an article today on a photography website covering a visit to the Nikon glass factory; it's interesting to read how they make it! But part of my understanding is built off a series of articles on lens design (much more basic with less math) on a lens rental shop blog, so might be in the same boat.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2018-04-20 10:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-04-20 10:22 pm (UTC)What holds the lock shut are the pins, which you can see on the left. Each pin is spring-loaded, with a break partway along the length. The pins are set with the breaks at different lengths, so that each pin needs to be pushed in a different amount to align the breaks.
These are what match the 'notches' carved along the length of the key; when you put the key into the lock, each notch matches a pin and pushes it in by the proper amount. If it's the right key with the notches cut to the right height and pattern, the breaks match up when you insert the key.
The pins are set in a cylinder; when the breaks align, the cylinder will turn, and the lock will open.
(When a locksmith re-keys the lock, they put a new set of pins in, with differing lengths; so putting the old key in will move the pins to positions where the breaks won't align.)
no subject
Date: 2018-04-20 10:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-04-20 10:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-04-20 10:33 pm (UTC)(Yes, I wouldn't really do it, given the 'no solicitation' rule... still tempting, though. ^_- )
no subject
Date: 2018-04-20 10:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-04-20 10:48 pm (UTC)