Using the LAB Pin Decoder to Decode Medeco Biaxial Pins and Keys

I have the LAB LPDMED (LAB Brand Pin Decoder for Medeco Biaxial Pins) but LAB doesn’t really give instructions for using it. This is a summary of what I have learned in decoding Medeco Biaxial pins and keys.

LAB LPDMED (LAB Brand Pin Decoder for Medeco Biaxial Pins)

Decoding Key Pins

1. Locate the nib on the back of the of the key pin. You will orient this towards the back of the decoder. There is a slot that the nib will rest in.
2. Put the key pin in each of the grooves at the top of the decoder until you find the one where it sits flush with the edge of the decoder. This will determine the length of the key pin.
3. Note which of the V’s the tip of the key pin sits in. This will determine if it is a fore or aft key pin.
4. Note the orientation of the sidebar groove. This will determine skew of the key pin (left, center, or right).
5. length, fore/aft, and left/center/right will determine exactly which type of pin the key pin is (K, B, Q, M, D, or S).

Orienting the back of the key pin in the decoder

Orienting the the key pin so that it is flush with the top of the decoder. This is a 5K key pin (5 length, fore, left)

Decoding Master and Top Pins

1. Place the master or top pin in each of the center gauges until you find one that it fits in.

Measuring master and top pins

Decoding Keys

1. Use the stepped gauge to measure each of the cuts on the key. This will determine the depth of each cut.
2. Place the key in the left side of the tray and use the marks to determine if each cut is fore or aft.
3. Look down on each cut to determine the skew of the cut.
4. Knowing the depth of the cut, fore/aft, and left/center/right will determine which key pin and top pin are needed.

Measuring the depth of the cut (4)

Checking each cut for fore and aft (aft, aft, fore, fore, aft)

Checking each cut for skew (center, center, left, left, left)

A key with a matched key pin.