System for identifying and duplicating master keys

A method of duplicating a master key comprising:

• receiving and clamping a master key defining a major key axis, an intermediate key axis along which a key blade variably extends, and a minor key axis that defines a key thickness;
• detecting a distal end of the master key using a camera to align a measurement device to the key blade along the major key axis;
• imparting relative motion along the major key axis between the measurement device and the master key;
• the measurement device generating a signal indicative of variations in the key blade along the intermediate key axis;
• and
• using the signal to generate information usable for defining the machining of a duplicate key.

A system for duplicating a master key comprising:

• a clamping mechanism for receiving and positioning a master key whereby the master key defines a major key axis, an intermediate key axis along which a key blade variably extends, and a minor key axis along a key thickness;
• an image capture system for generating image information indicative of a keyway geometry for the master key;
• a measurement system for profiling the key blade and generating bitting information for the master key;
• a computer that receives information generated by the image capture system and the measurement mechanism, the computer being configured to (a) align the measurement mechanism to the master key based upon information received from the image capture system, (b) compute bitting information based upon the information from the measurement mechanism, and (c) select a proper key blank based at least upon the image information.