"Create a Custom Card" - The National Locksmith

— ADVERTORIAL —
by Jeremy Phillips
Create a Custom Card
M
y love affair with WH Software’s code software,
InstaCode has been well documented. However
even I am forced to admit that there are times
when a particular key code simply is not in there.
Fear not true believers, all is not lost!
InstaCode has a clever little feature which will allow
us to create the code series ourselves, thus allowing us
to cut these keys on both electronic and manual code
machines!
This feature is found under the heading, “Custom series/card” from the “Tools” menu on the main screen.
Let’s look at how it works by creating a card and
a code series to cut a key for a 2009 Hyosung Motorcycle.
This key came into our shop for cutting. It belonged
to a 2009 Hyosung motorcycle. The key had a code
number on it. A quick search on InstaCode soon revealed that there was no matching code series listed, in
fact not even the key blank was listed!
Now the normal course of action may have been to
simply duplicate the customer’s key onto an appropriate blank and send them on their way, but this was a
prime opportunity to gain some valuable information
which would definitely help me should I ever encounter
this particular bike again. Next time I might not be so
lucky as to have a working key to start from!
Step 1: Series
InstaCode is asking us for some referencing information for our new system.
• We have the ability to add specific manufacturing
notes.
• By creating a bitting table I will have the ability to
add more decodes to the series in the future as they
become known.
Here’s how we did it...
Begin by opening the “Create custom card/series”
feature from the Tools menu.
A new window opens prompting us to either EDIT
an existing custom series or ADD a new one.
Step 2: Manufacturers
Add the manufacturer you would like to link this
series to.
• If the manufacturer does not exist in InstaCode’s
database, you can create it.
• Tick multiple boxes if you want the series referenced under more than one manufacturer.
— ADVERTORIAL —
Step 4: Key Blanks
Select the key blank used for this series.
In my case I had found that a Hyundai key blank,
Silca HYN3 was an almost perfect match. All that was
needed was to move the shoulder back a little.
(This modification was noted in the manufacturing
notes in Step 1.)
• OEM key blanks are not available for selection.
Step 6: Finish!
Finally, InstaCode gives us a review of our new
series.
We can return to any of the previous steps and
make changes whenever we like.
Some recommendations for creating a custom
card or series:
• If creating a new card, begin the Series description with a numerical reference to the card number
you intend to use. The possible range for NEW cards
is 20000 – 20999. I would begin my Series description
with “(000)” to reference custom card 20000. As you
create more custom series’, (and trust me – you will!)
you will find this helps to remind you what card number you are up to!
• TRIPLE check the space and depth information
before using the series to cut a key. Neither TNL, WH
Software nor the author are responsible for broken
machinery as a result of this article!
Step 5: Bitting Data
(If you selected “Direct Decode” as your data storage option in Step 1, you will not see this screen)
• Add bitting data to known codes.
• Import bitting data from a text file.
Our new Hyosung code series is now available for
use!
As more decodes are discovered, I can edit my new
card and add the new data.
The ability to create a custom code series has been
a real help to me in my day to day life as a locksmith.
I have made custom cards for a wide range of applications, but I find it is especially good for those little
4-6 cut locks, which are usually impressioned. These
locks often have only 3 or 4 depths and can be easily
sight read. The ability to translate these cuts to an actual key by using InstaCode has dramatically reduced
my labour costs, increased my profit margin and given
me an easily replicable, professional looking key!
• Remember that many key machines have multiple
jaws for clamping the keys. This can come in handy
with many of the strange profiles out there!
• When creating a new card based on the dimensions of one key, make sure you keep checking other
keys of the same type for a while. You will often find
that the card information needs a little tweaking before
it is perfect.
• Once you are sure you have correct data – send
the information to WH Software so that we can all share
in the joy of your creation!
Purchase InstaCode for only $199 a year at
www.TheNationalLocksmith.com n