6300 Series IC The 6300 (Figure 8) IC is the one currently used on all new SARGENT master key sys- tems using interchangeable cores. SARGENT still occasionally uses the term removable core with reference to this product as well as the 5100 Series. I’m mentioning this so you don’t get confused with the varying terminology uses. The existing 5100 Series RC has been dis- continued for new master key systems, as the 6300 Series is the replacement. However, for maintenance situations on existing systems and for certain exceptions, SARGENT can accommodate the customer by supplying the 5100 core. Construction and Operation The 6300 LFIC employs a control sleeve that spans the third and fourth chambers of the core. Unlike the old style RC, all key blanks are the same length. And SARGENT ICs from any series fit only into SARGENT housings, which also means that any com- petitor’s ICs won’t fit into any SARGENT housings, with the exception of planned retrofits. The 6300 core is only available in the six-pin configuration. The pin diameter is .115 inch; remember that a zero bitting is the deepest (like a 10). The increment drop is .020 inch, and a two- step progression is used. The MACS is 7. As of 2002, SARGENT 6300 cores are top-loadable, though many in the field are older cores and must be combinated by plug removal. Shear Lines The control key creates a shear line in cham- bers #1, #2, #5 and #6 within the plug and a second shear line in chambers #3 and #4 at the control sleeve (and attached control lug), which will allow the rotation of the control lug to remove (or insert) the IC. Thus, when the control key is inserted and turned CCW, it locks the control sleeve with the plug so they move as one unit. From this information it should be clear WWW.ALOA.ORG to see that since the third and fourth cham- bers are being used for the control sleeve, the same cuts on the control key must differ from the TMK. The two keys (master and control) will be identical in all positions ex- cept in the third and fourth positions. If this didn’t happen, terrible things would occur. Both the plug may rotate and the control lug may move, which would cause jamming. In any event, the number of combinations within these two positions will be limited (Figure 9). The pin stack total for each of the two control chambers must equal 20. The actual number of combinations avail- able for use in the control chamber is only 78. This being known, there shouldn’t be more than six steps between the control key and master key bittings. If the distance were greater, it would require a #1 master pin, which doesn’t theoretically exist. SAR- GENT has developed a formula to computer- generate the most effective control bittings, eliminating those less desirable. When you are keying to chambers #1, #2, #5 and #6, you are using standard keying pro- cedures. The pin stack total in each of these chambers must always be a total of a coded 15. Progressing Again, SARGENT uses a two-step progres- sion with an increment drop of .020 inch. Adhering to these conventional principles of master keying, if the master key number in a particular chamber is an odd number, then the operating key should also be an odd number. Conversely, if the master key bitting is even, the operating key bitting also should be even. This rule applies to the con- trol sleeve chambers for the operating and master key bittings as well, again explaining the limited number of possible bittings for these two chambers. To rephrase: An odd- even parity is maintained in every chamber. Obviously, when the size of the system allows, master keying the two control cham- bers should be avoided. In addition, these rules apply to the control key. The TMK’s parity, position by position, must be the same for all subordinate keys, including the control key. It should also be apparent that we are using a Total Position Progres- sion Method, similar to BEST and other IC systems. Pin Kits As always, it is best to use the OEM pin kits whenever possible. LAB offers a wide variety of pin kits, as they are the OEM for a number of lock manufacturers. However, LAB and other pin manufacturers don’t of- MARCH 2014 KEYNOTES 51
