Ez key registration assembly

A method of aligning a bitted key and an unbitted key blank for machining a duplicate key having the same bitting as the bitted key which comprises the steps of:

• providing a bitted key and an unbitted key blank each having a thickness, a key blade having at least one working edge, and a head having a first face, said bitted key having bitting on the respective at least one working edge, the at least one working edge of said key blank adapted to be cut to provide a bitted edge,
• providing three-dimensional surface features on the head of the bitted key that match corresponding three-dimensional surface features on the head of the key blank,
• providing at least two key clamping vises moveably positioned with respect to a follower and a cutter on a key cutting machine with a first of said vises being positionable adjacent the follower and a second of said vises being positionable adjacent the cutter,
• providing each vise with opposed jaws,
• providing jaw surface features on a first surface of at least one of the jaws of the key vise adjacent the follower and surface features, matching the jaw surface features, on a first surface of at least one of the jaws of the blank key vise adjacent the cutter, each vise's opposed jaws moveable to clamp a key portion including the respective key's surface features therebetween, wherein the surface features of the vises are complementary to the surface features of the bitted key and key blank,
• positioning the bitted key and the key blank against the respective first surface of the respective at least one jaw with the respective surface features of each of the bitted key and the key blank engaging the respective surface features of the first surfaces, with the bitted key positioned against the first surface of the jaw of the vise associated with the follower and the key blank positioned against the first surface of the jaw of the vise associated with the cutter,
• clamping the jaws of the vises against the bitted key and key blank, respectively, while maintaining a mated engagement of the surface features of the bitted key and key blank with the surface features of the jaws to retain the bitted key and key blank in a fixed position relative to the vises, the surface features being configured such that the bitted key and key blank will each have its respective key blade at least one working edge positioned in only one position with respect to its associated vise when the surface features of the bitted key and key blank are engaging the surface features of the respective jaw in mated engagement and the first faces of the bitted key and key blank are in the same orientation.