Cincom Long-Turning Machine “L20-2M8 LFV” Secures the Process for Original Haptics Good Feeling for the Perfect Sound

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Elysia GmbH from Nettetal (Germany) refines the sound of music productions with its analog high-end equipment. An important element for the success of Elysia products is the unique haptic feel of the aluminum rotary knobs. With the help of the “Cincom L20-2M8 LFV” turning machine from Citizen, their production is achieved process-securely, with high precision and reliably reproducible.

So that the next hit excites its listeners on both high-end audiophile systems and on the radio or compact Bluetooth speakers, it undergoes a series of processes for sonic refinement during music production. A company that develops and manufactures the necessary equipment for this is Elysia GmbH from Nettetal. The company consists of a small and creative team of passionate musicians, sound engineers, and audio enthusiasts who rely on clear analog audio paths instead of sterile digital technology.

The sound experts develop and manufacture high-quality analog mastering compressors and equalizers, fine preamplifiers with special sound design capabilities, and much more that both professional and amateur hearts desire. "We have an extremely high level of production depth, and what we are particularly proud of: We do the entire development completely ourselves—from analog development and prototyping to serial production and packaging. For this, we have the corresponding machinery and electronics production, which is something special even in our high-end niche," reveals Ruben Tilgner, founder, CEO, and developer at Elysia GmbH.

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Elevated hHaptics as the First Point of Contact

But before the desired sound comes out of the speakers, it must be coaxed out of the Elysia products, so to speak. "And how? By touch, by turning the up to 22 knobs, as with our long-time bestseller, the 'alpha compressor'. And that is one reason why we place particularly high value on the haptics of this control element in product design: It is the first point of contact between the user and our device, and they touch it a hundred or a thousand times, so a cheap plastic potentiometer is not enough for us—it is a solid aluminum knob," says Frank Weber, head of CNC machining at Elysia GmbH.

Accordingly, this element is also a significant cost factor in an Elysia product. Nevertheless, despite the increased raw material prices, the high-end sound forge from Nettetal has not made the devices more expensive. "We have always wanted to offer high quality at affordable prices, so we had to see where we could save without letting quality or customers suffer. And that's when we decided to acquire our own lathe for our aluminum knobs," adds Frank Weber.

"Cincom L20-2M8 LFV" as a Strong Solution

To this end, Frank Weber did some research and came across Citizen Machinery Europe GmbH: "I knew Citizen from my wristwatch. But I wasn't aware that they also manufacture high-quality lathes. In addition, the nearest branch in Neuss was only a few kilometers away from us. So I called them directly, and Nils Westphal came to our company, presented the Citizen products, and worked out a suitable offer."

The focus quickly shifted to the "Cincom L20-2M8 LFV," a classic long-turn lathe that can be enhanced with many options, such as the patented LFV technology or special parts handling. "From that moment on, we stopped searching because we already realized: We are perfectly placed with Citizen and the 'Cincom L20-2M8 LFV'," agree Ruben Tilgner and Frank Weber. Especially in parts handling, it was important that the finished knobs are not damaged when ejected from the machine, which is not an issue with the L20. The compact design and the low weight of the lathe were also important factors. Nils Westphal, head of the Neuss branch of Citizen Machinery Europe GmbH, adds: "To save further space, Elysia even dispensed with a separate bar loader. With internal centering and the ability for the machine to regrip the bar where otherwise the pusher would be used, we were able to ensure a smooth process with minimal bulk." Although this takes a few seconds longer, it is not decisive for Elysia. After all, consistent high quality is more important there. "As a nice side effect, I have almost no tool wear: After the first 8,000 knobs, the indexable insert neither needed rotating nor replacing. And yet every knob is exactly like the other—without imprints from the gripper or damage from wrapped chips," Frank Weber happily notes.

Highest precision from the start—with and without LFV technology

Before the "Cincom L20-2M8 LFV" was installed in the Elysia production hall, the aluminum knobs were manufactured externally. "However, this usually entailed a complex and thorough quality assurance process. Unfortunately, we often received defective parts, where, for instance, there was a misalignment in the knob groove or the height was incorrect. Since we started using the Citizen lathe, that truly belongs to the past," says Ruben Tilgner. Whether the knob takes a few seconds longer in production or each knob has to be inspected: the latter ultimately incurs the greatest costs. "Now we can say in assembly: Take the part and install it!"

Impressive for Frank Weber: "The machine is extremely precise: When I turn it on in the morning and measure the first part, it matches to a hundredth with what is measured in the evening." While Elysia doesn’t focus on the μm, utmost precision is mandatory, especially for the internals of the knob. "After all, there’s hardly anything worse than a knob that wobbles or doesn't sit properly in the housing," Ruben Tilgner knows. A significant factor in maintaining consistently high quality is also Citizen's patented LFV technology. It breaks the chip timely and accurately, long before it can wrap around the workpiece or tool, preventing potential damage or machine failures. "This chip-breaking technology once again convinced us that the 'L20-2M8 LFV' is the right machine for our purposes," says Frank Weber.

All-Round Service Included

The delivery of the machine and its setup in the production hall at Elysia went without a hitch. "The access via the external staircase and the sensitive floor with underfloor heating were certainly not ideal, but the company Hohensee together with Citizen managed it excellently," Frank Weber is enthusiastic. Elysia is convinced by the overall package that Citizen delivers: the comprehensive support by Nils Westphal and the enormous performance and precision of the lathe—for many more high-end product designs.

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