on all orders over $150*
on all orders over $150*
Cutting SFIC (Small Format Interchangeable Core) keys can be challenging. And almost always, you'll see people want to code cut them instead of duplicate because sometimes it's challenging to get them to hold straight. On top of that, your duplicator must be dead on.
When it comes to the Framon 2, it's going to cut those keys, but what I want to really zero in on and go over today is a special vise that you can buy. And it's a Dual vise. It's an SFIC vise on one side and an automotive tip stop vise on the other. So if you're going to cut a lot of automotive tip stop keys or cut a lot of SFIC keys using this vice, it will make it a lot simpler and fun. In a minute, I'm going to tackle the vice, how Framon came up with it, and how it works. It is amazing because it will cut your standard like best A, B, C, H, G key ways; it will also clamp and hold them perfectly straight the W series like the WC key. Overall, this is a great specialty, the automotive tip stop or the SFIC. Let's go hop over to the machine and have a little fun with it.
Take off the SFIC jaw from the Framon 2 machine and look. Once you have the jaw, flip it sideways, and you'll see the tip stop.
And on the other side, you can see all the lines that go and cut into the key. I didn't set the dial right in my jaw, and I kind of chewed into it a little bit, but it still works perfectly fine.
HOW THE DUAL VISE WORKS
When you put a key into the vice, push it to the end until the tip stop, and clamp it down, you can see the alignment point on the key. The key inside the vise will look excellent and perfectly aligned, be it BE2 best A key or WC key. In short, it works with any key. It's a genius way that Framon came up with this vise jaw.
SETTING UP THE VICE
There will be setting up instructions that are going to come with the vice. And the big thing about it says, 'Also, if you're using the IC core side of the vice, your cutter will most likely take a small amount of material off on the vise when making the #9 cut.' And as I've mentioned earlier, I took a little more off than I should because I wasn't paying attention.
The in-depth space information on the Framon book is still valid except for the starting point, but since we are dealing with SFIC keys, we will be cutting: for a 6 pin key starting spot is .412 and for the 7 pin key is .262. Something you should keep in mind.
Outside of that, you can use the #2 spacing block and the 150 to its side. This is how to ensure it. Move the spacing block out, pick it off, and on the side, there's the number 2.
After that, return it and set its side at 150. Alright, we're good as far as having the block on.
Let's now set the first space. Start by setting it up to zero, and then we are going to .412. Remember, every full rotation is .050, so we'll count for every rotation. So, here we go, .050 (1st rotation), .100 (2nd rotation), .150 (3rd rotation), .200 (4th rotation), .250 (5th rotation), .300 (6th rotation), .350 (7th rotation), .400 (8th rotation), and then to . 012.
After setting up the first space, we will align the space block to the first cut.
Two more things I want to go over with before we cut the key. The first is the cutter. So just like on the Schlage video, I widen the cuts a little bit because the stock cutter that comes with the Framon machine is not quite getting the base of the cut that you're wanting. So it's good to widen out a little bit, and you'll see me do that while I'm cutting.
I want to point out that if you ever find yourself struggling cutting SFIC keys despite your machine, what we're going to do is cut all 8s. The reason for that is you can pin up a lock to it and test, then troubleshoot what's going on.
Since we've gone over everything, the only thing we have left to do is set the depth. And the number eight depth is a .219. Use our cheat sheet, go over here to .200, it will be on zero because that's what we know it's 200.
Then we're going to go up to .019. So we'll pass 10, then 19.
We're now ready to cut all of these eights in a row. Like I showed you before, when I took the vise out, insert the key and tip stop it at the end, and clamp it down. We're good to go and cut the key.
Turn the machine on and start ripping through the cuts.
As you see, I'm backing it off a little bit on the actual line just to hit both sides well.
I didn't get super technical; I mean, you wanted to go about two or three on each side; I was splitting the difference because I want to get it done. So that's probably like how you will do it.
Take the key out, grab our cylinder and test it.
And there you have it. The SFIC/automotive tip stop jaw is pretty cool. I'd love to know what you think in the comments below. Thank you, and we'll see you next time.
