Called the dealer nearby and casually asked for the key, found out it wasn’t that simple. I noticed the key had a number stamped on it, took a photo of it assuming I’d just need that number and the VIN to get a replacement if I ever lost the key. I was new to riding, bought this bike secondhand and it only had one key. I had a similar problem with a Honda motorcycle. Posted in 3d Printer hacks Tagged 3d print, lock, locksport, mailbox Post navigation Locksport is a popular pastime for hardware hackers. Picking locks isn’t just for getting the mail. Back in 2013, he submitted a parametric bump key model to Thingiverse. This particular mailbox uses a 4 pin tumbler, which makes it a bit less forgiving than other mailbox locks we’ve seen.Īdmittedly this isn’t first time working with locks. It took three revisions before the perfect key popped out of the printer. He then printed it out, and the box didn’t open. He did his modeling in Autodesk’s free Fusion 360 CAD software. However, this is the first time we’ve seen the technique put to use for good – in this case avoiding a hefty lock replacement fee. Using a photograph as a template for a 3D printed copy is nothing new. Instead he had his parents email a photo of the key, which he used to 3D print his own copy. He could have had the building super replace the lock, for a fee of course. With the mail quickly piling up in the mailbox, he needed to get in there. But we don't have centralized delivery here, and if the carrier is willing to carry a copy of our building key.When parents went away on vacation, they took the apartment mailbox key with them. And perhaps part of that shift is phasing out installs of Arrow locks on individual building entries and mailboxes. I know that USPS policy has been shifting towards centralized delivery in recent years, so that they no longer have to visit individual addresses in order to deliver mail. I'd have thought there would be a form and/or documentation somewhere on the USPS site, but all I've come up with is an almost-suspicious lack of any information whatsoever. While it's easy to find the hardware for sale (sans lock), my not-inconsiderable web skills have failed to find any information whatsoever about the process of getting the box outfitted with a lock. So my question becomes, before I consider ordering one of these: How do you go about getting the actual lock installed? Is it a service provided by the USPS directly? How does one even go about making an install request? Are there fees involved? You can buy the actual boxes from many sources (here's one version from ), but as one might expect they come without the lock installed. When fitted with a standard USPS "Arrow lock", any postal carrier can open the box, then use the key stored inside to unlock the door and enter the building. Fortunately, there's already an existing (and much better) solution, which I've seen employed at other residential locations: An exterior box, sometimes called a "key keeper", mounted outside the front door and containing the door key on a chain. I've already ruled out "more keys for the USPS!" as an option for solving this - that way lies madness. (Say, dropping off a Priority or Express package, or even just someone else covering our regular guy's route when he's out sick or on vacation.) Without that One Key we've provided to the USPS (really, one specific individual employee), the mail can't get in. Problem is, that doesn't help at all if a different USPS employee needs to deliver mail. To deliver mail, a copy of the building front door key has been provided to our regular mail carrier. We have a 9-unit apartment building with USPS-approved mailboxes mounted in the secured entry lobby. Perhaps this is a question I should just ask the USPS directly, but I wanted to first try to collect some third-party experience with the process. I'm not sure this question is at all appropriate for DIY.stackexchange, but it seemed the best fit so if it's not appropriate here it's probably not appropriate anywhere.
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