So I finally put my ass in gear and finished the cryptex I designed and started around this time last year. I haven't really posted on /diy/ before, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this flavor of content would be appreciated here.
Tools used:
CNC router
Bridgeport mill
Lathe
Propane torch and silver solder
Heat treatment oven(because I had to anneal one of the damn tubes, knew a guy)
Files
Sandpaper
Grinder
Arbor press
Metal stamp set
Patience, lots
Materials used:
1.5" OD x 0.063" 4130 steel tube
1.375" OD x 0.063" 4130 steel tube
0.125" 304 stainless steel plate
0.25" 6061-T6 aluminum plate
0.25" black acetal sheet
2" brass round stock
2 small pieces of mystery scrap steel
0.0625" x 0.25" acetal dowel pins
#4-40 screw
Pre-assembly part count: 41 pieces
Post-assembly part count: 36 parts
Number of possible combinations: 2,821,109,907,456
Chances of opening purely by feel because decoy slots: 1 in 390,625
Weight: 2.2 lbs/1 kg
Opened view
>>1088253
Seen these before, got 2 questions:
>1. WTF do these things do?
>2. How do they do it?
Lock Tube
Inside view of the mechanism tube
>>1088255
1: It's basically a fancy cylindrical puzzle box
2: Have patience, there are detail shots for each component but I can only post so fast
Retaining ring for keeping the rings in place while locked
Spacer ring gives the teeth somewhere to stay out of the way and separate the combo rings in a visually pleasing way.
The "back" side of one of the assembled and pinned combination rings.
The "front" side of an assembled combo ring showing the 4 decoy slots to make manual cracking almost impossible(only time will tell).
Combination ring disassembled into the outer character ring, the inner slip ring that does the actual locking, and the indexing pin used to set the character for each assembled combo ring.
+1 OP
The cryptex fully disassembled showing how the lock tube sits in the slot when closed. Also shows the locking notch for the retaining ring at the right end of the mechanism tube. Lastly shows the stack of spacer rings and combo rings laid out.
Now make a fail-safe that releases acid or something to destroy the contents if tampering is detected
Who among you seeks to further satisfy their desire for knowledge via long distance textual discourse?
>>1088269
I personally don't find that extra effort to be worth my time. The alignment on the combo rings needs to be pretty spot on for it to open at all. I have had to fiddle with the rings more than a few times now in order to get it open, and I actually know what the combo is. Everything is a very close fit so that it is nearly impossible to feel what the hell is going on, and if you do feel a tooth "drop in" there is a 4 in 5 chance that it wasn't the actual slot opening. I don't think it needs any further tamper resistance, besides acid would ruin it and then I would be sad.
>>1088270
TL:DR "Who has questions?"
No questions, but that's dope, man. Nice work there.
So its a large bike lock? If you think your false setting improvisations are any good, just watch a master lock picker open a similar lock. I don't think those rounded edges would lead to many false sets.
For what purpose? An angle grinder could get it open in about 3 minutes. Swap out the acetal pins for steel pins; it will stop heat as an attack point for the lock.
Send to this guy: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1orOGJwZvjLAvckyxC4Nw
Watch him crack it.
Or any professional locksmith really. That guy just has a higher chance of making a video about it.
>>1088280
It locks stuff inside it. I do plan to give someone I know that picks locks the chance to crack it. The teeth aren't really rounded, they have a steep taper to them. When I was doing the final filing of the teeth they would set into the slots pretty readily, but now that they are all even I haven't been able to feel any of the slots. That and you have to pull fairly hard to open it means you can't exactly jiggle it while you go through the rings.
It's primarily a novelty. Any properly equipped person could destroy it to get to the contents, sure. The black slip rings are also acetal and if I did switch out the pins for steel ones you could possibly use a magnet to find them and use that to position the rings and unlock it. I did consider using something that would severely reduce the effect of heat on it, but I don't reasonably expect that to be something it should encounter. Acetal lets it slide smoothly and was easy to work with.
>>1088272
If the message would be written on very thin paper you could probably dissolve it with a small amount of acid. Coating the inside would prevent much damage to the metal. A very thin-walled glass vial containing the acid could then just be inserted with the paper around it, for the real Da Vinci Code feel + absolute security of the message. Still I wouldn't recommend it, because nobody truly uses this for message safekeeping but just because it's an awesome project and object to have, which it is
Very well done, quality threads like these are what makes /diy/ such a good board, no matter the amount of "hey I want to buy X but I want to spend basically zero money so I'll just shoot down all advice until the thread dies" threads.
Again, very well done and thanks for the good photo's and commentary
>>1088304
Thanks. This was not a cheap project for me as I wasn't entirely sure how I wanted everything. Originally it was going to have brass character rings, because brass looks fucking awesome, but the 0.125x4 inch bar was 0.115 in the middle of the bar and 0.135 on the outer edges. I would have had to machine it flat first and then I would be lucky to have the sheet be 0.1 thick, too narrow for the stamps I had.
I've learned a lot about material selection from this project.
>>1088307
I can imagine that. I've just started working with metal (small milling machine) and I've learned already that choosing steel equals needing to have a lot of patience and really hard milling bits. Cool stuff though
>>1088327
With steels it all really comes down to what alloy you are machining. 12L14 and 1215 are super machinable steels, but something like 1045 or 4140 have more carbon and other stuff mixed in which makes them stronger but tougher to machine. You can do a lot with HSS tooling in steel, but carbide can be run far faster and will deal with harder materials better.
>>1088253
Cool as shit OP. Looks gorgeous. How many hours did it take you?
>>1088253
Fucking impressive, cant even imagine the amount of effort this would take
OP is not a faggot
>>1088253
Damn OP that's very fucking nice
>>1088266
where's the mechanism that destroys your secret shit with acid if someone tries to brute force the cryptex?
>>1088253
Now you just need to find a nice dungeon to leave it in, make sure to put an old key inside.
>>1088263
>>1088272
Are all the faults drops even spaced like that?
The first issue is they drop the number of combinations from 200B to 390K. The second is only 2 of the faults drops sort of land on letters basically giving the combo away.
Very cool build though and its not like it's something you're actually producing and selling.
Very well thought out and execution op.
>>1088342
lol
>>1088361
somewhere between 30 and 40 hours, but if I did another one it would be far less time spent.
>>1088432
Now I plan to use this in a DnD campaign.
>>1088438
You are correct, they are evenly spaced. Now that you point out the alignment issue I should have done 5 decoys plus the real slot. As it is the alignment of the characters isn't perfect which will help hide that, but mostly its that the slots are 0.188 wide and the teeth are 0.17 at their widest and taper to a significantly smaller face size where they would actually drop in. 390k is still a lot more secure than a 4 ring numeric bike lock which is only 10k and are still a reasonable impediment.
If I make any others I will incorporate a properly divisible spacing. Possibly I might also change the acetal slip ring to some metal.
>>1088253
That's nice as tits, good job OP
A few pics of the machining process.
And one of the first renders of the cryptex.
>>1088253
Good job.
>>1088253
Nice job OP!
>>1088630
So, how many of those little bits did you break?
>>1088978
At least 3
>>1088253
Now you need papire and vinegar. Also how did you shaped the letters in the rings?
>>1089308
Nvm i already saw the stamp mention
>>1088253
I accidentally clicked on this board but that looks cool. That's like some Da Vinci Code shit
Have a grabcad link
https://grabcad.com/library/cryptex-8
>>1088520
>Now I plan to use this in a DnD campaign.
That's actually a great idea.
>>1088269
>acid
>>1088304
>acid
>>1088422
>acid
>>1089308
>vinegar
hurr durr...
Most acids do not dissolve paper. Neither papyrus.
In particular, vinegar (even 100% acetic acid) is not able to damage paper / papyrus.
Several strong acids damage paper, as well as your skin and any other organic matter. For instance H2SO4. Turns organic matter into coal. Or HClO4. Explodes. Bad idea in general.
>>1091082
I don't think the point is to dissolve the paper, maybe just destroy the ink?
>>1088253
i really hope the pass is heil odin
This is one of the best posts I've seen on /diy/ in a long time. Thanks OP
>>1091407
This!
I love ingenious machining porn. Post moar of your work OP.
May the labes of babes drape your dong,
May you grow rich and be happy,
May you make even moar delightful objects.
Great work!! Looks amazing! The only constructive crit i can drop is maybe you would consider a bit more buffing to make it shine more.
>>1091082
The weak acid if for the ink not the paper.
What's the password faggot
Also props
>>1091827
password
>>1088629
is that a screw machine?
>>1092173
Close. That is a turret lathe. More of a non-automated screw machine
Great project OP, wish the place I work at had the machinery to make this, seems like a lot of fun.
>>1088253
wish there was a site that sold these, can only find plastic ones
>>1091382
I'm pretty sure it says 'Hello /diy/' But still, nice find. I didn't even notice it the first time.