Specifications

Medeco
Interchangeable
Core Locks
M
edeco is known for its high
security locks with rotating
chisel pointed pins, sidebar and
angled cut keys. It makes a wide
variety of lock cylinders, and included
among its product line are three
different types of interchangeable core
locks. The main IC lock is the 32-
series High Security Interchangeable
Core cylinder. They also make the 31-
series I-Core which is designed to fit
into Yale style IC housings. Their
most recent introduction is called
KeyMark, which is a patented key
control Best-style IC system.
This article will be limited to the
discussion of Medeco’s 32-series I-
Core. The 31-series I-Core will be
briefly discussed in a future article
about Yale’s interchangeable core
system.
The Medeco 32-Series I-Core
The mechanical operation of
Medeco’s 32-series I-Core is
considerably different than Best-style
and Schlage I-Cores (both previously
profiled in this article series). Best-
style cores have a second completely
separate shear line that runs the
length of the core. A Best control key
will have different cut depths in each
tumbler position than an operating
key, and the core will use build-up
pins to allow both control and
operating keys to serve their
functions.
Schlage I-Cores have a core
retaining pin at the back end of the
core. An operating key and control
key will be nearly identical to each
other, except for the fact that the
control key will be longer. The
extended tip of the control key helps
to actuate the core retaining pin.
Medeco’s 32-series I-Core doesn’t
follow either of those principles. An
example of a Medeco core and
housing is shown in Photograph 1. The
core retaining, or locking lug, can be
seen extending out from the right side
of the core. The locking lug is part of
the control sleeve, but unlike Best, the
control sleeve does not extend the full
length of the core. Instead it covers
the span of two pin chambers roughly
in the center of the core. Specifically,
they are the third and fourth pin
chambers from the front end of the
core.
The control key has been rotated
counterclockwise in Photograph 2, to
draw in the locking lug. In this
position, a Medeco core can be
inserted into or removed from a
compatible housing. There is a clear
view inside the “figure 8” shaped
cavity of the Medeco IC housing in
Photograph 2. Looking inside the
cavity on the right side, you can barely
see the cutout that accepts the locking
lug of the Medeco I-Core which keeps
it retained inside the housing.
The Medeco 32-series I-Core
requires counterclockwise rotation of
the control key to draw in the locking
lug for insertion or removal of an I-
Core (Photograph 3). Virtually every
other type of interchangeable core
lock system requires clockwise
rotation to draw in the locking lug (or
core retainer).
18 • The National Locksmith
Medeco
Interchangeable
Core Locks
by
Sal Dulcamero,
CML
G ENERAL S ECURITY
Test Article #130
1. An example of a Medeco core
and housing.
2. The control key has been
rotated counterclockwise in to
draw in the locking lug.
3. The Medeco 32-series I-Core
requires counterclockwise ro-
tation of the control key to draw
in the locking lug for insertion or
removal of an I-Core.
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