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📘 A door lock separates a housing from a plug

A familiar cylinder lock has two important pieces.

3
lessons
~15 min
to learn
Adults
level
Start the course →

What you’ll learn

  1. Cylinder and pinsIdentify the housing, plug, keyway, and spring-loaded pin stacks.The housing and plug meet at pin stacks that block rotation until aligned.
  2. Key cuts and shear lineExplain how bitting and the shear line permit or block plug rotation.Bitting sets pin heights so every junction meets the shear line at once.
  3. Bolt motion and resetTrace cam motion to the bolt and how springs re-lock the cylinder.A rear cam moves the bolt; springs restore the locked state when the key leaves.

Questions this course answers

What are the two main moving parts inside a cylinder lock?

The housing stays fixed while the plug rotates when the pins allow it.

What does each key cut control?

The bitting lifts each key pin by a selected amount.

What is the shear line?

Pin junctions must align at that plug-housing boundary for rotation.

Why can one wrong pin height keep the lock closed?

One pin crossing the rotating boundary is enough to block the plug.

What transfers plug rotation to the latch or deadbolt?

The cam engages the lock case and converts rotation into bolt movement.

What restores the blocking arrangement after key removal?

Springs push the pin stacks back so driver pins cross the shear line again.

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