It is said that there are about 330,000 lock patterns for pin tumbler locks, and even if you try to make a duplicate key randomly, it is extremely unlikely that you can break through the key you ...

[Ben] and his associates over at the University of California at San Diego came up with a way to duplicate keys using ... that uses measurements from known key blanks to extrapolate the bitting ...

Having a new master key made by a dealer or locksmith -- not a duplicate based on the worn-out key -- may help. Some lock cylinders can be repaired by locksmiths by replacing or smoothing wafers.