How does a Combination Lock work?

(the first 100 people to sign up get 20% off)

I've used a Combination Lock for years but I've never really understood how it works until I made this video. The combination lock that I used in this video was from Master Lock but there are other companies to make them too. Parts of a Combination Lock include: Case, Shackle, Shackle Collar, Lever, Latch, Cams, Washers, Spring, and the Backplate.

This video has been dubbed in over 20 languages, you can change the audio track language in the Settings menu (click the gear icon in the lower right hand corner of the video).

⌚Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:30 - Combination Lock
00:51 - Different Parts
02:09 - Locking Mechanism
03:05 - Lining up the Cams
03:33 - Putting in the Combination
04:50 - CG Boost

Follow me on social media!

Sources:

Music:
"Undeniable" by Vibe Tracks (Youtube Audio Library)

Made with Blender 2.80, Cycles Render
(I'm not brave enough to try eevee render engine yet 😮😜)

Here is some of the gear that I use for animation:

#b3d #CombinationLock #howitworks

[MarkRober]

That was glorious. I could watch videos like this all day. Didn’t know exactly how it worked before but now I have a really clear mental model in my head. And I love a good mental model.

[thestudentofficial]

My mans researching how a friggin lock works and animate it for hours so we can enjoy it in 6 minutes.

[Colz_]

I love this guy because he explains things so well. If I actually tried to explain something I would horribly fail and everybody would be confused.

[ValkrazEsscaji]

What about locks that you can set the combination yourself? How does that work?

[hagfish]

Time for bed I have school tomorrow
YouTube: how do combination locks work?
Me: Good question!

[eclogite]

Great explanation! One note I have at 4:40 is that the jolt from locking it often isn't enough to move the cams out of alignment, and so unless you turn the dial again to move them, there's a good chance your lock will just open if someone pulls on it

[brianyildirim]

You modeled, animated, and made this whole video in 60+ hours so we can enjoy 6 minutes of it? Damn! I give you respect and a sub for that! Absolute dedication.

[Maltanx]

I watch all of LockPicking Lawyer without understanding anything about locks, so this video is extremely useful for me. At least, when he will post about combination locks, I will understand the principles of operation

[ArmyJames]

Whoever invented this was a goddamn genius.

[DonVigaDeFierro]

Thanks a lot for putting the effort to do these videos! Not only animating, but doing the research, modeling, editing... This is quality content right here. And of the best kind.

[dylanwindy]

Do a collab with the lockpicking lawyer on how picking one works

[bibasik]

How a Master Lock works:

1. And it's open.

[gusngregg]

"This is the LockPickingLawyer and today we have..."

[thistlecreek]

This has been explained to me several times over the years but without a visual, my grasp on this concept was fuzzy at best. Thanks for the time you took to make this!

[rea]

Very cool animation! But all of this doesn't help me since I somehow always manage to forget my code 😀😀😀

[penfold]

Really good animation. There's something you might have missed though, cos it's not that obvious. When you pull the shackle open, past where the locking lug is, the edge of the shackle retainer clip also knocks the combination rings and moves them all out of place. (That's why it's shaped a bit weirdly).

[VernL]

Wow, that was great! After opening a locker multiple times per day for all those years in school, I finally know how the locker combination locks works. There are so many things that we take for granted but don't know what is actually happening behind the scenes.

[DiamondJess]

time: 3am


youtube: "
How does a Combination Lock work?"










me: I don't need sleep I need answers

[electronicsNmore]

Fantastic job. A lot of work went into creating that animation, you're lucky it paid off. Some people take the time to create videos like this and only get a few thousand views. YT's algorithm was good to you.

[SPACYtunes]

Being able to explain things vividly and thoroughly is a skill many, many, many people lack. You're a great communicator and I dig that.