BMW touring panniers 3d key printing.

[Rob Frankham]

...The problem is, of course, that each key number will require a different blank.

Yep. But...
as it's only the first 5mm that matters it'll be a much easier task to mill the profile. The blank can be made as a solid with the usual precut as that aspect is common to all keys. If it's some 3D print material it might be easy to do with due care.
Some of the keys are flat on one side too so even easier with just the one side to fiddle with.

I envisage having a blank on a drill press with the appropriate width bit and just mill the blank accordingly. Anyhow, that's a current thought. I have a bunch of small bits that should help. The square profile likely easy enough, but the triangular ones may provide another complication.


More talk tomorrow with the guy that's doing the printing. I haven't chatted to him about this since early last week.

Agreed, my comment was about the use of commercial key blanks that 'just happen' to match the sections used in the BMW keys. Anyone with a suitable milling setup should be able to produce keys by the dozen. As I've said, I've done it succeffully using a dremel and small files... although I wouldn't class the result as pretty. the only real problem is getting the section for keys you don't have. Mind you, you can make a pretty good and useable approximation if you have the lock, even if you don't have a key...

Rob

[SteveD]

Well I spoke to the guy with the 3D printer and when using the pla printing filament the product looks good but is very brittle when used in the lock. Disappointing.
We discussed alternatives without a resolution but dremelling the keyway from a solid blank was mentioned. The chardie then overtook the beer and that was the end of the discussion hick

[Todd]

Echoes of Brexit I presume....

I find a lot of European retailers, across a number of product ranges, won't touch the UK any more; and those who do want (or need) to charge a £140 minimum due to the paperwork involved.

Something to do with a £135 threshold for VAT payable on the goods plus duty and shipping/insurance ... plus, of course, the courier charging a fee for processing the customs clearance. It's completely screwed me on numerous occasions where Europe is the sole place I can buy what I need to the point where it would have been cheaper to get on a bus there and back, in order to pick it up myself. Apparently, the problem with the quality of UK courier is then screwing the retailers up because e.g. if something is lost or isn't delivered and goes back, they end up paying double.

I read that it's in the £135 de minimis threshold for customs duty is in process of review and the government plans to remove it by March 2029 ... but what that means in practise, I have no idea.

I wasn't involved in the politics of Brexit at all but I have to say I curse those who did purely for this reason alone. It's insanity and has tanked more than one acquaintances business. I simply can't work on European bikes any more because I can't always get small, critical parts any more. The other day, it was going to cost me £140 for a £14 part I can only get from Europe ... and, of course, I can't pass that on.

I didn't realise that "taking back control" meant "not being able to buy stuff from our closest neighbours" (even though its nearer than Glasgow or Aberdeen). Taking back control's come to mean being uncontrollable reamed by the Inland Revenue and courier companies for me.


• On the topic of keys though ... are these "SN" types rather than the more common DBGM or DGBM ones?

Does Sudhaus or anyone else not make replacement barrel sets? I read they're also used for stuff like normal luggage or musican instrument cases. They used to in the past.

All in all a case of the ship sinking for a ha'penny worth of key. Perfectly good kit worth £100s, become worth nothing.

[SteveD]

• On the topic of keys though ... are these "SN" types rather than the more common DBGM or DGBM ones?

Does Sudhaus or anyone else not make replacement barrel sets? I read they're also used for stuff like normal luggage or musican instrument cases. They used to in the past.

All in all a case of the ship sinking for a ha'penny worth of key. Perfectly good kit worth £100s, become worth nothing.

BMW keys, not Krauser/Sudhaus...I've been away for 5 weeks...and catching up with the printer on Sunday.


Re shipping...would drop shipping elsewhere work? Eg to a friendly country with reasonable tarifs? Australia (only ) has 10% on all imports, for example.