How a Lock Works

A lock consists of a cylinder core, housing, springs, top pins and bottom pins. Before a key is inserted, the bottom pins hold the core from moving by sitting in both the cylinder core holes and housing holes. The springs and top pins hold the bottom pins down. When the correct key is inserted, the bottom pins are lifted by the key to create a shear line. Now all the bottom pins are flush with the top of the cylinder core, and the key will turn in the cylinder.