Apr 4, 2016 | By Benedict
24 Hour Locksmith Brisbane, an Australian locksmithing and security specialist, has created a high-security 3D printed safe. The PET container has been designed for use with sensitive electronic equipment and in areas of high radiation, where traditional metal safes could prove hazardous.
In most situations, the idea of a 3D printed plastic safe would not inspire confidence. Sure, ABS can be pretty strong, but nobody wants to stash their life savings in a plastic box. Never mind the threat of safecrackers: a hammer would probably suffice to smash a 3D printed safe to pieces. Luckily, this 3D printed PET safe, made by 24 Hour Locksmith Brisbane, has not been designed for most situations, but for a set of specific ones, for which it can perform a remarkably adequate job.
Made for use in “sensitive areas such as mining, explosives and areas sensitive to electromagnetic radiation,” the 3D printed safe prioritizes material properties over maximum strength. Since the 3D printed safe contains no metal parts whatsoever, it poses no risk of making a spark or ignition source around flammable materials. It can therefore be used around sensitive electronic equipment and areas of high radiation.
The 3D printed safe also offers important security advantages over traditional safes. It is not magnetic in any way, and is therefore undetectable by metal detectors and other devices. This means that the safe can be hidden in a wall or even buried, giving pesky intruders little chance of discovering it. Furthermore, since it is 3D printed, the safe could easily be redesigned using CAD software to fit precise crevices and hiding places.
Although the plastic safe could, with some effort, be compromised with physical force, picking the lock would be virtually impossible. Both the safe and its chunkier-than-normal key are 3D printed, with the Australian locksmiths creating a 7-lever, 7-disc mechanism modeled on the “Ratner” safe lock, an intricate design first seen in 18th century England. Since the Ratner design was even used by the Royal Family to protect the Crown Jewels, 24 Hour Locksmith Brisbane thought it ideal for its 3D printed safe. The Ratner-style safe is key changeable, with the lock combination reset every time the safe is opened. It can, however, also be made to operate with just one key combination, giving users a number of security options.
The prototype design works exactly as it should, but the designers at 24 Hour Locksmith Brisbane admit to a cosmetic failing on the device. The yellow splurge visible on the surface represents a failed attempt to 3D print a colored logo into the lid of the safe, which was—for maximum strength—printed as a single part, as was the body. The company has decided to abandon the colored logo element in future iterations of the 3D printed safe.
The designers of the 3D printed safe have made the project open source, with all parts available to download from Thingiverse. The makers recommend a 100% infill on all parts besides the bolt and body, which should be sufficiently robust at 40%.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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'secure' unless you have a soldering iron or better heat source
Corey Warren wrote at 4/5/2016 2:32:16 AM:
The pictures of the lock box on Thingiverse show metal screws holding it together.
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