TruBind TB-W20A 3:1 Wire Binding Machine Demo Video
Modular Binding Machines: How Interchangeable Dies Save You Space AND Money
Imagine a work environment that requires more than one or two binding styles available.
For example, a print shop needs to be able to bind books with either plastic spiral coils or 3:1 pitch twin-loop wires, depending on the project assignment.
A quick solution would be to purchase a dual-function binding machine like the Akiles DuoMac; however, keep in mind that this machine can only perform two functions.
The same print shop from our example just received an assignment that requires 2:1 pitch twin-loop wires. Should they purchase a new binding machine solely devoted to 2:1 binding?
Technically, yes the shop could buy a new separate machine. But if that print shop had originally purchased a modular binding machine with interchangeable dies, they would only have to purchase the newly required die set.
Modular binding machines are highly valuable in environments that use multiple binding styles in the same workspace. Rather than purchasing an additional binding machine devoted to only one binding style, users with modular binding machines simply purchase a new die set.
Replacement die sets are not only easier to store than a whole other binding machine, but they are easy to replace when the dies grow dull and no longer punch as effectively. One can save hundreds of dollars by simply replacing a machine’s set of “teeth,” rather than replacing the whole machine!
Modular binding machines are available in both manual and electric models, offering solutions to work environments with varying project volumes and budgets.
We’re happy to help you find the machine that’s right for you whether it’s single or multi-function!
Pressing Matters: Binding Machines with Foot Pedals
Selecting a binding machine with a foot pedal offers even more benefits to an already high quality piece of binding equipment.
- Hands-free operation – When a foot pedal is used to operate the punch function of a binding machine versus pulling a handle for each punch, the machine user is able to isolate his or her hand movement solely to picking up sheets and removing them from the machine.
- Increased productivity – Additional time spent manually punching sheets with a handle is saved by the quick tap of the foot pedal, ultimately saving money spent on manpower and increasing the volume per hour spent binding.
My manually operated binding machine comes with a foot pedal – what is it used for?
Select spiral coil binding machines that punch manually also come with a foot pedal, which is used to control an electric coil inserter roller. Pressing the foot pedal does not operate the machine dies for sheet punching; however, less time is spent on inserting coils because the user is only handling the binding materials instead of switching the machine on and off during the binding process.
The Long & Short of Using Binding Machines with Disengaging Pins
Some binding machines, either manually or electrically operated, are equipped with disengaging pins. If a pin has the ability to disengage, it can be selected and pulled so a hole is not punched in its particular position.
Some modular punch machines like those from Rhin-O-Tuff allow you to remove the pin completely – just don’t lose it in case you need it later!
Why would I want a machine with disengaging dies?
If you tend to bind books that are sizes other than standard 8-1/2 x 11 in. Letter size (such as 8-1/2 x 5-1/2 in. Half Letter, for example), you greatly benefit from using disengaging pins because you can eliminate a partially punched hole on the outermost top and bottom edges of your book.
My machine does not have disengaging pins. How do I eliminate partially punched holes?
Most office binding machines are equipped with a side guide margin, which helps you align the punched holes within the top and bottom edges of your sheet along its bound edge. The side guide margin is often located near the slot where you slide in your sheets to be punched. Move the guide left or right to shift the sheet’s position.
Case Closed: Secrets to Perfectly Closed Twin-Loop Wires Revealed
These helpful hints on closing twin-loop wires with a manual wire closer help save your supplies, time and money:
Matching Dials and Diameters
Most machines have a dial on the side that controls how far its wire closer will compress. The numbers on the dial correspond to the diameter of a wire once it’s closed. For example, you would turn the dial to 1/4 in. if you were binding a book with either a 1/4 in. twin loop wire with either a 3:1 or 2:1 pitch.
Why does my wire still have a gap between the tip and end of the twin loop?
Machines can be calibrated differently. You may need to turn the dial slightly looser or tighter in order to achieve your desired wire closure. For example, if there is still a gap in your 1/2 in. twin loop wire and your machine is certainly set to 1/2 in., gently turning the dial towards 7/16 in. should create a tighter closure.
Why does my wire get crushed in the closer?
Crushed wires usually occur because the diameter of the wire does not match the dial setting on your wire closer.
Some machines such as the TruBind TB-W20A Manual 3:1 Wire Binding Machine utilize the same handle for both punching sheets and operating the wire closer. When it’s time to punch, the dial must be set to “PUNCH.” Sometimes even the most experienced operator forgets to turn the dial to the appropriate wire diameter setting before closing wires!
Perfect Pitch: Understanding Holes per Inch
What does 2:1, 3:1, or 4:1 pitch mean?
These ratios help us determine whether a coil or wire is compatible with the hole pattern punched by a particular binding machine.
Example: 3:1 pitch
- The “3” means the number of holes
- The “1” means the number of inches
- “3:1” means that your machine will punch three holes in every inch of your book’s spine.
How do I figure out which pitch I need?
It’s very easy to measure which wire or coil pitch you need based on sheets punched by your binding machine:
- Hold a ruler next to the holes punched in your sheet or book.
- Lightly mark with a pencil the upper and lower edge of 1 in. along the spine.
- Count the number of holes that comfortably fit within the two drawn lines.
Why don’t my wires or coils match my book?
Wires with a 2:1 pitch will not fit correctly in a book punched with a 3:1 wire binding machine, and vice versa. Similarly, coils with a 4:1 pitch will not wind easily through a book punched with a 3:1 pitch wire binding machine. It is important to have “perfect pitch” when it comes to binding so the loops of your coil or wire will fit through the holes of your book.
TruBind TB-SD600 Heavy-Duty Electric Coil Binding Machine Review
The TruBind TB-SD600 Electric Coil Binding Machine is a heavy-duty coil binder that pairs quality construction and user-friendly features with a budget-friendly price point. The TB-SD600 is the newest model in TruBind’s line of affordable coil binding equipment, all of which have an emphasis on easy operation and are built from durable components. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the TB-SD600 and evaluate all of its features.
The TruBind TB-SD600 was designed with high-volume users in mind and has the largest punching capacity of any machine in the series – 25 sheets per punch. The heavy-duty electric punching mechanism makes quick work of punching even thick books, creating clean, consistent holes with every punch. Because the punch can be engaged using either the included foot pedal or by pushing the button located toward the front of the machine, the operator can keep their hands free to grab stacks of paper and arrange punched sheets into books – increasing overall binding efficiency. The punch is 11.81″ long (46 oval holes positioned with .250 spacing) and has an open throat to accommodate larger page sizes in multiple punches. The TB-SD600 also features fully-disengaging dies, which allow the user to eliminate partially-punched holes by selectively disengaging the punching dies along the edges of the sheet. To disengage a die and prevent it from punching, simply pull the corresponding pin (located on the top of the machine) upward until it stops. The die can easily be reengaged by pushing the pin back into place when desired.
For even greater control over your bound documents, the TB-SD600 has an adjustable side guide as well as an adjustable depth margin. The side guide allows users to accurately set the placement of their paper within the punch, ensuring that the holes are positioned consistently throughout the entire book (even when it is punched in multiple stacks). The side guide is located on the left side of the clear punching guide and can be repositioned by loosening the screw that holds it in place and tightening it once the guide is in the desired position. The depth margin control allows the operator to set the distance of the holes from the edge of the paper – allowing the holes to be closer to the edge on thinner books or with a greater margin when binding thick documents. Adjusting the hole depth based on the size of the book not only looks more professional, but also creates a more durable finished book since thicker books will be less likely to tear along the bound edge when a larger margin is used. The TruBind TB-SD600 has three available punching depths – 2.5mm, 4.5mm, and 6.5mm – which can be set using the knob on the left side of the machine.
Another user-favorite feature of this model is the electric coil inserter that is located toward the front of the machine. To use the electric coil inserter, the user inserts a 4:1 pitch binding coil into the first few holes of a book by hand, then gently touches the coil against the spinning inserter. The coil should be positioned against rubber roller so that the tail of the coil is to the right and the holes of the book are to the left. Power to the electric coil inserter is controlled by an independent switch to the right of the inserter, allowing the operator to turn it off when it is not in use. The electric coil inserter greatly increases productivity by making the binding process much faster than inserting the coils by hand, and can be used with coils up to 7/8″ in diameter (larger coils can be inserted manually). To make the process of inserting coils even easier, the TB-SD600 utilizes an oval hole shape that creates a slightly taller hole that provides less resistance during insertion and makes the pages easier to turn after binding. Each machine also includes a pair of heavy-duty coil crimpers, which are used to trim away the excess coil and create a small bend that secures the pages in place. After the coil is fully inserted, the crimpers are used to finish the binding process.
The TB-SD600 has a durable metal housing and metal internal components. It has a moderate desktop footprint of 17″ W x 18″ D (with a height of 11-1/4″ including the clear guide) and weighs 63 lbs. This model features a one-year warranty that protects against manufacturing defects and covers both parts and labor.
In summary, the TruBind TB-SD600 is a well-constructed, solid piece of binding equipment that is built for frequent use in offices, schools, or copy centers. Though it has the same features and output capabilities of professional-grade machines, it has a price point that is hundreds of dollars less – making it an attractive alternative option for those looking to bind on a budget. The design and operation is simple and intuitive, which allows even novice users to bind with ease within minutes of set-up. While it may not offer interchangeable dies or automatic stacking like some of the more industrial machines that we offer, the TB-SD600 bridges the gap between manual binding machines and production-grade equipment designed for high-volume output. It’s an excellent entry-level machine for companies looking to bring their binding process in-house or for those looking to make the leap from manual to electric.
Bind Hardcover Books Using Your Fastback Binding Machine!
Binding hardcover books with the Powis Parker Fastback binding system revolves around binding a group of pages (referred to as a “book block”) with an endleaf in both the front and back using either LX Strips with the Fastback 9 binding machine or Super Strips with the Fastback 20 binding machine.
Since the inserted endleaves are glued to the cover while the spine itself is not, it creates what is referred to as a “floating spine,” which adds longevity to the book by preventing creasing and cracking along the glued edge.
Pre-fabricated Fastback hardcovers are available in both portrait and landscape orientations with either “composition” covers or “suede” covers in a variety of attractive colors.
Though there are only page maximums when it comes to the binding strips, it is important to match the thickness of a book’s block to the appropriately-sized hard cover spine to ensure a proper fit.
For a highly-customized, full-color hardcover book, one might consider the Image Wrap process. A laminated printed sheet is cut to size using the appropriate hardcover guide then wrapped around covers with pre-applied adhesive with the help of the Powis Parker Image Wrapper. After endleaves are added to each side of the “book block” and the double sided adhesive sheets included with the covers are applied to each side of the cover’s interior, the “book block” is then inserted.
Neither type of cover actually goes inside the machine – only the “book block” bound with either the LX Strips or Super Strips.
To give your hardcover book a truly professional finish, create an indentation near the book’s spine using the Pro-Bind Hardcover Crimper to allow for easy page turning and to prevent unsightly creases on the cover.
If you have any questions about Fastback binding or how to make your own hardcover books, feel free to ask us within the comments section – we’re happy to help you!
The Rhin-O-Tuff 3250CL Coil Binding Machine: A Sleek, Office-Friendly Binding Solution
When selecting a binding machine for office use, it can sometimes be difficult to balance performance with ease-of-use. Many machines that are capable of standing up to office-volume binding require precise adjustments that make them cumbersome in multi-user environments. The Rhin-O-Tuff 3250CL was designed specifically with offices in mind, pairing durable construction and strong components with simplified controls and streamlined operation. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the features of the 3250CL coil binding machine and show why it is so well-suited for office environments.
The Basics
The Rhin-O-Tuff 3250CL is a fully-electric coil binding system, featuring a push button-operated punch and electric coil inserter. This model is compatible with all standard 4:1-pitch binding coils (including Lamination Depot’s high-quality spiral binding coils as well as GBC ColorCoils). The electric punch is designed for use with letter-sized documents (8-1/2″ x 11″), and can punch up to 25 sheets at a time (based on standard 20 lb. paper). The pages of your document are inserted vertically into the punch throat, which helps to ensure precise alignment along the binding edge. The 3250CL’s electric coil inserter is engaged with the push of a button (and automatically turns off after approximately 30 seconds of non-use). The rubber-coated roller grabs onto the plastic coil and advances it through the holes of your document, making inserting fast and efficient.
In addition to its high-quality binding functions, the 3250CL coil binder also comes equipped with a number of features designed to enhance the user experience. This model has a built-in drawer that provides a place to store supplies as well as the included coil crimping tool. Furthermore, the drawer also has guages to measure the document size and the coil size to eliminate the guesswork of selecting the right spine size. An extra-large waste drawer with a small window helps to prevent jams and aids in maintaining the machine.
Benefits of the 3250CL
Like all Rhin-O-Tuff binding machines, the 3250CL is 100% made in the U.S.A. It also features an unmatched 3-year warranty – the only machine in its class with such a robust warranty period. Rhin-O-Tuff is so confident in the 3250CL that if the machine experiences any issues within the warranty period, they will send a new machine immediately – with no waiting period for inspection, servicing, or repair.
Another benefit of the Rhin-O-Tuff 3250CL is that it is designed to be low-maintenance. Though some office-level binding machines require regular maintenance in order to stay at peak operation, the 3250CL has self-lubricating dies that keep the punching smooth – the only maintenance that is necessary is emptying the waste tray.
In Review
The Rhin-O-Tuff 3250CL coil binder is a powerful and easy-to-use coil binding system that is an ideal fit for office environments. It features simple, one-touch operation that allows even the most inexperienced users to achieve professional-quality binding results with minimal training. The 3250CL has a built-in storage drawer that holds the included coil crimping tool as well as a small amount of supplies, and even has special guages to help you determine the best spine size for your book and to measure the diameter of your coil. In addition to its useful features, the 3250CL coil binder also features robust construction that ensures that it will last for years. As with all Rhino-O-Tuff binding machines, this model is made entirely in the U.S. – and it features an industry-leading 3-year warranty period.
If your business is looking for a coil binding machine that is both durable and user-friendly, then the Rhin-O-Tuff 3250CL coil binding machine is one of your best options.