The 16K20 universal turning screw cutter was designed to replace the aging 1K62. Its release began in 1973 at the factory "Red Proletarian" in Moscow. As follows from the designation, the machine had a distance between the spindle axis and the guides on the bed 200 mm.
The machine's output volumes were huge, and it quickly became the main metal-cutting equipment at the enterprises of the USSR. To meet demand, the production of a number of units was carried out by an additional plant in Gomel. After the liquidation of the main factory "Red Proletarian" all the remaining equipment was transferred there. Currently, the Gomel plant produces the GS526U machine, which is a deeply modernized 16K20.
The scope of the machine is very wide and includes various turning operations and threading on parts. The technical characteristics of the 16K20 lathe made it possible to use it for single and large-scale production of parts.
Lower part of the machine
The base of the machine is a box bed mounted on a monolithic base. Due to its shape, this design has high rigidity, which is very important for metal cutting machines. The material for the bed and base is high-strength cast iron. On the basis there are points of attachment of equipment to the foundation or floor.
At the base are the main motor of the machine and a tray for collecting chips and spent lubricating coolant (coolant). An additional electric motor is installed on the right side of the bed for quick movement of the caliper, which improved the technical characteristics of 16K20. Polished guides are installed on top of the bed along which the apron and tailstock move.
Improving working conditions
The machine is equipped with a steel fixed protective shield mounted behind the bed. In addition, there is a separate transparent shield on the support of the machine. This shield is mounted movably and can be folded down.
When developing the machine, attention was paid to reducing the number of manipulations when setting cutting conditions. To do this, all tuning tables and knobs for selecting rotation speeds and feeds are compactly placed on the front of the headstock. To quickly move the tailstock, the so-called “air cushion” can be used - the supply of compressed air (from the factory line) between the guides of the bed and the headstock. Thanks to these and a number of other improvements, the main technical characteristics of 16K20 were improved.
Electrical equipment
The electrical equipment of the machine is placed in a separate control panel, mounted on the rear wall of the headstock.
High technical characteristics of the 16K20 machine are provided by a powerful main drive engine. The motor develops power up to 10 kW at a shaft speed of 1600 rpm. By special order, an even more revolving engine was installed - up to 2000 revolutions.
Kinematics of the main motion chain
From the main engine, the rotation is transmitted by a belt drive to the main shaft of the gearbox. To ensure the technical characteristics of the 16K20 shaft is equipped with a multi-plate double-sided clutch. This device provides reverse operation of the machine. Two additional shafts of the box have gear units. By switching these blocks, the machine receives 12 basic spindle speeds — six high and six low.
To expand the scope and more complete implementation of the technical characteristics of 16K20, the gearbox has a so-called sorted gear group. Busting allows you to get another 12 additional speeds - of which six will be with a slowdown of eight times and six - 32 times. In total, the box has 24 speeds and allows you to change the spindle speed in the range of 12.5-1600 revolutions. When reversing the machine, the exhaustion group is not used.
16K20 today
Despite the advent of more accurate and functional equipment, the machine is widely used in our time at many engineering enterprises. By the ratio “price - processing accuracy” 16K20 is in a very advantageous position. The equipment is extremely unpretentious, maintenance does not require large expenses.
One of the big drawbacks of the 16K20 was the unreliability of electricians. Therefore, it is preferable to use machines after a major overhaul with the replacement of all unreliable units and components.