The lock core of the long panel interior door lock is the core anti-theft component, and its structural design directly determines the anti-pry performance and user experience. As two mainstream types, the cylindrical lock core and the blade lock core have significant differences in locking principles, anti-destruction capabilities, and operational fluency. These differences are not only due to the essential differences in mechanical structure, but also reflected in the performance degradation and maintenance costs in long-term use.
The anti-pry performance of the cylindrical lock core depends on the precise coordination of the pins and the lock core. It is composed of multiple groups of pins (copper or steel) aligned up and down. When the key is inserted, the key teeth of different lengths lift the pins to a specific height, aligning the dividing line between the lock core and the lock body, and realizing rotation unlocking. The weakness of this structure in terms of anti-prying is that the pins are exposed on a large surface. If violent prying is encountered (such as hooking the pins with a thin steel wire), the pins are easily dislocated due to external force, causing the lock core to get stuck, but it cannot be unlocked directly. As for the drilling damage to the lock core, the cylindrical lock core has dense internal pins and needs to penetrate multiple layers of pins to fail. With the metal wrapping of the long panel, the basic anti-prying ability can meet the needs of home interior scenes.
The blade lock core improves the anti-prying level through "blade grouping dislocation". Its core is multiple slidable metal blades (usually 6-10 blades), each blade has a notch of different shapes, and the key tooth shape must be completely matched with all the blade notches to align the blade with the lock core groove. The anti-prying advantage of this structure is that the blade layout is more concealed, and it is difficult to control the position of multiple blades at the same time during violent prying. The blade edges are mostly designed to be serrated, which can jam the prying tool to prevent penetration. In addition, the blades of high-quality blade lock cylinders are made of manganese steel with higher hardness, and their anti-drilling ability is 40% stronger than that of the copper pins of cylindrical lock cylinders. Under the protection of the long panel, they can effectively resist common destructive unlocking methods.
In terms of ease of use, cylindrical lock cylinders are known for their "low resistance and smoothness". Since the contact area between the pins and the key is small, and the pins are mostly made of copper (low friction coefficient), the resistance when the key is inserted and rotated is small, which is especially suitable for children, the elderly and other users with less strength. Even if there is slight wear and tear after long-term use, the self-adjustment space of the pins can still ensure basic smoothness. Unless the pins are stuck or the key is deformed, the "stuck key" phenomenon rarely occurs. Its maintenance is also simpler, and regular dripping of lubricating oil can alleviate the sluggish feeling caused by wear.
The ease of use of the blade lock cylinder is more obviously affected by the accuracy and material of the blade. The clearance between the blade and the key slot of a high-quality blade lock core is controlled within 0.02 mm, and "senseless alignment" can be achieved when the key is inserted, and the rotation resistance is close to that of a cylindrical lock core; however, if the blade processing accuracy of low-end products is insufficient, it is easy to have problems such as key insertion jamming and obvious "scratching" when rotating. In addition, the blade lock core is more sensitive to key wear - if burrs appear on the edge of the key teeth, the blade may not be completely reset, which manifests as "difficulty in removing the key". Its maintenance needs to be more cautious, and excessive lubricating oil will absorb dust and accelerate the jamming of the blade.
The performance difference in extreme environments further amplifies the applicability of the two. In a humid environment (such as the long panel interior door lock near the bathroom), the copper pins of the cylindrical lock core are prone to patina due to oxidation, resulting in increased rotation resistance, and need to be cleaned every 3 months; while the manganese steel blades of the blade lock core are more rust-resistant after rust-proof treatment, and can be extended to 6 months for maintenance in the same environment. In a low-temperature, dry environment, the pin grease of the cylindrical lock core is easy to solidify, which may cause "cold start jamming". The blade lock core is less affected by temperature due to the small metal contact area.
The universality of keys and the difficulty of copying affect the convenience of long-term use. The key tooth combination of the cylindrical lock core is relatively small (usually no more than 100,000), there is a small probability risk of mutual opening of keys, and it can be easily copied at street key-matching stalls; the tooth combination of the blade lock core can reach millions, and the mutual opening rate is extremely low. Key copying requires special equipment and the blade gap parameters must be strictly matched. Although the cost of re-matching after the key is lost is increased, it improves security, especially suitable for indoor scenes with high privacy requirements (such as bedrooms and study rooms).
The difference between the two lock cores forms a scenario-based selection logic: the cylindrical lock core is suitable for general household scenes that pursue smooth operation and simple maintenance, and its anti-pry performance is sufficient to cope with low-risk indoor environments; the blade lock core is more suitable for scenes with high anti-theft requirements (such as indoor partition doors in duplex houses) and can accept slightly higher maintenance costs. The design of the long panel further amplifies the structural advantages of the two by strengthening the external protection of the lock cylinder. Whether it is the smoothness of the cylindrical lock cylinder or the anti-prying property of the blade lock cylinder, they can function more stably with the support of the long panel.
