ALOA CMST key terms

A spring-loaded bolt or plate held back by a fusible link or glass rod that drops into the boltwork when the lock is attacked, permanently blocking the safe from opening until it is serviced.

A temperature-sensitive connector, often a low-melting alloy or plastic, that releases the relocker when exposed to heat from a torch or drill friction.

A hardened steel plate, sometimes containing tungsten carbide or ball bearings, positioned to deflect drill bits and protect the lock or boltwork from drilling.

The assembly of bolts, levers, cams, and linkage that secures a safe door to its frame; it is driven by the lock and retracts when the correct combination is entered.

The small movable bolt on the lock itself that blocks or releases the safe's main boltwork, usually the point where the lock engages the door mechanism.

The fixed perimeter of the safe opening, with a recessed lip or flange into which the door and locking bolts seat when the safe is closed and locked.

The clearance between the door and the frame, measured with a feeler gauge; it can reveal whether boltwork is fully engaged and whether the door is warped or sprung.

A set of thin metal strips of known thickness used to measure clearances, such as the safe door gap, to diagnose alignment or boltwork problems.

The graduated collar around the combination dial that provides the index mark for reading numbers; a loose or shifted ring can cause the combination to fail.

The fixed reference line on the dial ring against which the numbers on the combination dial are read when dialing.

The numbered rotating disk on the outside of the safe door that transmits rotation to the lock's wheel pack through a spindle.

The shaft connecting the outside dial to the lock's wheel pack, transferring rotation into the lock case.

The set of numbered rotating wheels inside a mechanical combination lock whose notches must align at the fence for the lock to open.

The lever arm inside a combination lock that rides on the wheel edges and drops into the aligned gate notches to allow the bolt to retract.

The notch cut into the edge of each wheel in a combination lock; when all gates align under the fence, the lock can open.

The rotating part of a combination lock turned by the spindle that carries the fence and engages the bolt, linking dial rotation to locking action.

An opening method using a torch or heat source to cut or weaken a safe's door or body; fusible links and relockers are designed to defeat it.

The precise location on a safe door chosen to drill through to reach the lock mechanism, often determined from manufacturer diagrams or lock knowledge.

A small hole drilled into a safe door or lock case to allow visual inspection with a borescope during diagnosis or opening.

A flexible optical instrument with a light and camera used to look inside a safe or lock through a small hole without enlarging the opening.

Opening a combination lock by feel and sound, using dialing techniques to locate wheel contact points and gates without drilling or force.

The dial reading at which the fence or drive cam first touches a wheel during manipulation, revealing the wheel's position.

Recording contact-point readings across many dial numbers on a chart to reveal patterns that identify the combination's wheel positions.

Systematically testing a lock's response to dialing, such as resistance, sound, and feel, to determine whether the problem is the lock, dial, or boltwork.

An opening technique that penetrates the door or lock case at a chosen point to reach and retract the boltwork or release the lock.

Opening a lock by manipulating its internal components with tools rather than using the correct key or combination.

Making a working key by inserting a blank into a lock and reading or marking the positions of the pins or wafers as they contact the blank.

Defeating a lock or its linkage without opening it normally, for example by reaching past the lock to retract the boltwork directly.

Cleaning, lubricating, adjusting, and repairing a safe lock so it operates reliably, including checking wheel alignment, spring tension, and bolt travel.

Resetting a mechanical or electronic safe lock to a new code, typically by repositioning wheels or entering a programming sequence per the manufacturer's instructions.

A safe lock using a keypad, circuit board, and solenoid or motor instead of a wheel pack, often powered by batteries and programmed with a master code.

An uncut key of the correct profile for a lock, used to make a working key by cutting or impressioning.

Duplicating or originating a key on a key machine by tracing an original or following a code, then deburring and testing the result.

A feature that prevents a safe from opening until a set period has elapsed after the correct code is entered, deterring robbery.

The written description of what a safe or lock service job includes, such as opening, repair, delivery, or disposal, used to set expectations and price.

A quoted price or price range given to a customer before work begins, stating assumptions, exclusions, and conditions that could change the final charge.

A document authorizing and recording a service job, including the customer, location, scope, price, and any signed release or liability terms.

A signed waiver in which a customer acknowledges risks of opening or servicing a safe, such as damage to contents or the container, and agrees to the terms.

A documented record of who handled a safe or its contents and when, used to protect against disputes over missing property.