The HX-63 had about 10600 possible key combinations. That's equivalent
to a 2,000-bit binary key. For comparison, the Advanced Encryption Standard,
which is used today to protect sensitive information in government, banking,
and many other sectors, typically uses a 128- or a 256-bit keys.
 |
| The HX63 ‘Super Rotor’ cipher machine was made by Crypto AG of Zug, Switzerland. Built around 1963, this machine could operate from 220/110/12 volt power sources and was finished in a light ‘crackle’ paint. Only 12 of these machines were ever produced. |
 |
| HX-63 with cover off. Click on image to enlarge. |
 |
| HX-63 bottom view. In the center of the cast-aluminum base of the HX-63 cipher machine is a precision Swiss-made direct-current gear motor. Also visible is the power supply [lower right] and the function switch [left], which is used to select the operating mode—for example, encryption or decryption |
 |
| HX-63 rotor detail. A total of 12 different rotors are available for the HX-63, of which nine are used at any one time. Current flows into one of 41 gold-plated contacts on the smaller-diameter side of the rotor, through a conductor inside the rotor, out through a gold-plated contact on the other side, and then into the next rotor. The incrementing of each rotor is programmed by setting pins, which are just visible in the horizontal rotor |
| All photos in this table courtesy Peter Adams |
Contributors abd credits:
1) John Alexander, G7GCK Leicester, England.
2) https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-scandalous-history-of-the-last-rotor-cipher-machine