How Do I Set the Bind Time on the Fastback 15xs Binding Machine?

The Fastback 15xs thermal binding machine from Powis Parker is a feature-packed, easy-to-use binding system that is ideal for office use. In just seconds, the Fastback 15xs takes your reports and presentations and transforms them into professionally-bound softcover or hardcover books. Though this model is designed to require almost no manual adjustments to bind most documents, it does offer the ability to easily make precise changes to the binding process in order to ensure a quality bind on even specialty paper types. The Bind Time setting allows you to increase the length of the binding cycle by up to 15 seconds to accommodate hard-to-bind paper (or even decrease the binding cycle length by up to five seconds when necessary). Below are step-by-step instructions for setting the bind time on the Fastback 15xs binding machine:

  1. Press the “OPEN” and “EDIT” buttons simultaneously to enter the Special Functions Menu. You can access this menu with or without a document in the binder.
  2. Push the “EDIT” button to advance through the menu; push the “OPEN” button to cycle through the menu in reverse.
  3. Select the “BIND TIME” option, then press the “BIND” button to confirm.
  4. The default message of “+00 SECONDS” will display on the screen. You can now adjust the bind time in five-second increments. Add time by pressing the “EDIT” button; reduce the length of the binding cycle by pressing the “OPEN” button.
  5. Once you have finished adjusting the bind time as desired, press “BIND” to confirm.
  6. Place your document into the machine, then press the “BIND” button. When prompted, insert the indicated Super Strip size and the Fastback 15xs will bind your document in the specified amount of time. During the binding cycle, the screen will briefly display the revised bind time.

Note: Unless a certain weight or type of paper is found to be particularly difficult to bind, changing the length of the binding cycle is not recommended.

How Do I Bind Books with the Fastback 15xs Binding Machine?

The Fastback 15xs binding system from Powis Parker is an innovative and dynamic thermal binding machine that is designed for large office use. It uses Fastback Super Strips to create both softcover and hardcover books with ease – without the need for messy gluing or time-consuming punching. Below is a step-by-step guide to binding a book using the Fastback 15xs binding machine:

  1. Turn the power switch to the “ON” position. The power switch is located on the lower left corner of the front of the machine. Once the machine is on, it will take approximately nine minutes to warm up. When it has reached its operating temperature, the display will read “READY TO BIND.”
  2. The book clamps will automatically open to a narrow width. If your document is thicker than the opening, press the “OPEN” button to create a larger gap for your book.
  3. Jog the pages of your book by tapping the binding edge against a flat surface a few times. This will help to ensure that they are properly aligned before binding. Place your jogged document into the Fastback 15xs, sliding it so that it is flush against the right side of the opening. Tap the pages again to make sure that they are aligned.
  4. Press the green “BIND” button. This will engage the book clamps and close them around your document.
  5. The display screen will indicate the correct Super Strip width based on the thickness of your book. Select a Super Strip of the indicated width, ensuring that the length of the strip matches the length of the binding edge of your document. Note: If you notice that some or all of your sheets have become misaligned, press the “OPEN” button to unclamp your document and realign your pages as necessary. Once the pages have been straightened, press the “BIND” button to continue the binding process.
  6. Insert the Super Strip into the guide on the right side of the machine, with the adhesive side up. Note: It is very important to ensure that the binding strip is inserted with the adhesive side up. If it is inserted upside-down, the glue will melt onto the surfaces of the binder and your document will not be bound.
  7. The binding cycle will begin automatically once the strip is inserted. When the binding cycle has been completed, the clamps will automatically open to release the document and the display screen will read “REMOVE BOOK.”
  8. Remove your bound document from the binding channel and place it into the cooling rack with the spine side down for a few minutes. Allowing your book to cool properly before using it will give the adhesive an opportunity to set and results in a durable, long-lasting bind.

How Do I Remove a Jammed Strip from my Fastback 20 Binding Machine?

The Fastback 20 thermal binding system from Powis Parker uses convenient, adhesive-lined binding strips to turn reports and presentations into attractive bound books. Using Fastback binding strips is very easy – simply insert a strip into the machine when indicated, and the machine does the rest. While binding with the Fastback Model 20 is nearly error-proof, you will likely experience a jam at one point or another. Below is a step-by-step guide to removing a jammed binding strip from your Fastback 20:

  1. Turn the power switch to the “Off” position and remove any books that are sitting on the Cooling Rack.
  2. Open the machine by inserting the eraser end of a pencil (or other similar object) through the hole in the lower right corner of the machine until the machine cover pops open slightly.
  3. Lift the cover until the latch engages and the cover remains in the upright position.
  4. Raise the heater platen assembly until it catches the magnetic stop. Locate the jammed strip at the bottom of the binder – it may be located in the feed slot or stuck to the heating platen itself.
  5. Use the included tongs to remove the strip.
  6. Remove any adhesive residue that remains on the platens. (See “How Do I Maintain My Fastback 20 Binding Machine?” for cleaning instructions.)
  7. Pull the heater platen assembly toward you to disengage it from the magnet, then gently place it into its original position.
  8. Close the machine by releasing the left rear lever and pressing down on both sides of the cover. Once the latch clicks and the cover locks in position, the machine is ready to use again.

Troubleshooting Your Fastback 20 Binding System

The Fastback 20 thermal binder from Powis Parker is a user-friendly way to achieve professional-quality binding results in as little as 15 seconds. Designed with ease-of-use in mind, the Fastback 20 requires minimal user input in order to bind – simply place your book into the binding channel, insert the indicated Fastback binding strip, and the machine takes care of the rest. As with any piece of equipment, you will occasionally encounter errors that you will need to troubleshoot when using the Fastback Model 20.

If you receive an error message, begin by turning the power switch to the “Off” position. Open the machine by inserting the eraser side of a pencil (or similar object) into the hole located on the lower right corner of the face of the machine until the cover pops open slightly. Lift the cover until it locks in place, then do a quick visual inspection to ensure that there is not excessive adhesive residue, a jammed strip, or other foreign matter that may be causing the error. Close the cover, then turn the power switch back to the “On” position. If the error condition persists, refer to the list below for troubleshooting advice.

Problem:

  • The machine doesn’t have power.

Possible Solutions:

  • Ensure that the power cable is firmly inserted into both the machine and the power outlet.
  • Check the fuse to see if it has blown. If it has, replace it with a new fuse.
  • Verify that the power switch is in the “On” position.

Problem:

  • The machine is on, but no message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solution:

  • This generally indicates a program error. Turn the power off, then back on to reset the system.

Problem:

  • Binding strips cannot be inserted into the machine.

Possible Solutions:

  • The Fastback 20 will only accept strips if the book clamp has been closed. Press the “BIND” button to close the book clamp around your document.
  • Verify that you are inserting the correct strip width. The display screen will indicate the correct strip width once the book clamp has measured the thickness of the document – only use the listed strip width.

Problem:

  • After the binding cycle has been completed, the book is not bound and no binding strip is present.

Possible Solutions:

  • The strip may have been fed with the adhesive side down. Check for misfed strip inside of the machine and clean away any adhesive residue that may have been left behind. Always insert Fastback binding strips with the adhesive side up.
  • The binding strip may have become twisted or damaged and jammed inside of the machine. Open the machine and remove the jammed strip, cleaning any remaining adhesive residue as is necessary.

Problem:

  • After binding, the strip is not aligned to the edge of the book.

Possible Solutions:

  • The wrong strip length may have been used. Fastback binding strips are offered in 8-1/2″ and 11″ lengths (14″ strips are available as a special order). Always use the strip that corresponds to the length of the binding edge of your document. To bind documents with other dimensions, see “Can I Bind Books with Unusual Dimensions Using the Fastback 20 Binding System?“
  • The strip that was used may have been damaged. Try binding with a new strip.
  • The binding strip end may need to be adjusted. Adjust using the “Strip End” setting on the Main Menu.

Problem:

  • After binding, the strip is extremely askew or only partially bound to book.

Possible Solutions:

  • The strip that was used may have been damaged. Try again with a new binding strip.
  • There may be adhesive residue on the binding surfaces that is interfering with the binding process. Clean any adhesive residue, following steps shown on the “Cleaning” animation on the display screen.

Problem:

  • The “Strip Jammed” message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solution:

Problem:

  • The “Detection Error” message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solution:

  • The machine was unable to detect a valid pattern on the strip being used. Ensure that you are using a genuine Fastback binding strip that has a valid pattern on the adhesive side.

Problem:

  • The “Book Too Thick” message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solution:

  • The book is too large to be bound. Remove some pages from the book or consider breaking it into two separate books, then re-initiate the binding process.

Problem:

  • The “Carriage Error” message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solutions:

  • Adhesive residue may have built up inside the machine. Remove the adhesive residue, following the instructions provided at “How Do I Maintain My Fastback 20 Binding Machine?“
  • A binding strip or foreign matter may be lodged inside of the machine. Open the machine and remove lodged objects as necessary.

Problem:

  • The “T2 T3 Error” message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solutions:

  • Adhesive residue may have built up inside the machine. Remove the adhesive residue, following the instructions provided at “How Do I Maintain My Fastback 20 Binding Machine?“
  • A binding strip or foreign matter may be lodged inside of the machine. Open the machine and remove lodged objects as necessary.

Problem:

  • The “Sensor T3 Error” message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solutions:

  • Adhesive residue may have built up inside the machine. Remove the adhesive residue, following the instructions provided at “How Do I Maintain My Fastback 20 Binding Machine?“
  • A binding strip or foreign matter may be lodged inside of the machine. Open the machine and remove lodged objects as necessary.

Problem:

  • The “Motor T3 Error” message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solutions:

  • Adhesive residue may have built up inside the machine. Remove the adhesive residue, following the instructions provided at “How Do I Maintain My Fastback 20 Binding Machine?“
  • A binding strip or foreign matter may be lodged inside of the machine. Open the machine and remove lodged objects as necessary.

How Do I Edit Books Using the Fastback 20 Binding Machine?

The Powis Parker Fastback 20 binding machine turns your printed reports and presentations into sleek and durable bound books using innovative Fastback binding strips. While books bound with Fastback strips are permanent, you do have the ability to make minor edits to books that you have previously bound using the Fastback 20. Below is a step-by-step guide to editing bound documents with the Fastback Model 20:

Begin by selecting the “Edit” option on the Main Menu. You will be guided through the following prompts:

  1. Insert New Page. Open your book flat and fold down the corner of the sheet that you want to replace. Insert the sheet that you want to add to the book immediately behind the sheet it is replacing, positioning it as close to the adhesive as possible (but not completely flush).
  2. Push Bind Button. Place your document into the binding channel, aligning it to the right side. Press the “BIND” button.
  3. Pinch Page Sections. During binding, pinch the front and back sections of the book so that the page with the folded corner is free.
  4. Remove Page. When the book clams open, immediately remove the folded page. With the document still in the binder, grab the folded corner and apply firm, uniform pressure as you peel it away from the spine working from left to right.
  5. Tap Down New Page. Tap along the top edge of the replacement page to ensure that it is even with the rest of the sheets in your document.
  6. Put Book in Cooling Rack. Lift the edited book out of the binding channel and place it into the Cooling Rack with the spine side down. Allow the book to cool for 2 – 3 minutes before removing it from the Cooling Rack, then allow it to cool for an additional 2 – 3 minutes before opening it.

Note: If the page that you are removing does not lift out easily on the first attempt, repeat steps 2 – 6.

How Do I Maintain My Fastback 20 Binding Machine?

Known for its ease of use, the Fastback 20 binding machine from Powis Parker is one of the most popular professional thermal binding systems on the market today. In addition to its user-friendly operation, the Fastback Model 20 is also very easy to maintain. Generally, you will only need to perform maintenance when adhesive build-up is visible on an operating part or when a strip has become jammed inside the machine. In this post, we’ll cover the steps for basic maintenance on the Fastback 20.

Cleaning the Two Red Heat Platens

Note: In the Main Menu, navigate to Instructions, then Cleaning. The display screen will then guide you through the steps for cleaning the platens and back-up bars.

  1. Turn the power switch to the Off position and allow the machine to cool for five minutes before cleaning.
  2. Remove any books that are in the Cooling Rack.
  3. Open the cover of the machine by pushing the eraser end of a pencil (or another similar object) through the hole located on the lower right corner of the machine until the cover pops open slightly.
  4. Lift the cover until the latch engages and the cover is held in the upright position. Note: Use caution when the cover is open, as other internal parts aside from the platens may be very hot.
  5. While wearing the included heat-protective glove, wipe the top side of the heating platens with a clean, dry, cotton cloth that has been dampened with the cleaning solution provided in your Accessory Pack. The surfaces should be wiped lengthwise until they are clean. If there is a large amount of adhesive build-up, you can also remove it by peeling it away from the cooled platen using a wooden ice cream stick. Do not use anything abrasive or made of metal to clean the platens, as they would scratch the coated red surfaces.
  6. Move the right rear belt to raise the front platen until it is level with the stationary rear platen. Rotate the large black gear located on the left until the underside of the platen is exposed. Following the same technique described in step 5, clean all exposed red surfaces along with the silver deflector plate that is attached at the bottom of the front platen.
  7. After you have finished cleaning the front platen, return it to its original position.
  8. Close the machine by releasing the left real lever and pressing down on both sides of the cover until the latch clicks and the cover locks in position.

Cleaning the Back-up Bars

Note: The back-up bars are positioned under the top cover and may, over time, accumulate adhesive. Use caution when cleaning the bars as they may be hot; wear the heat-protective glove that was included with your machine if necessary.

  1. Set the power switch to the “Off” position and wait five minutes to allow the machine to cool.
  2. Remove any books that are sitting in the Cooling Rack.
  3. To open the machine, push the eraser end of a pencil (or other similar object) into the hole located on the lower right corner of the machine until the cover pops open slightly.
  4. Lift the cover up until the latch engages and the cover is held open. Note: Use caution while the cover is open as internal parts may be very hot.
  5. To clean the front back-up bar, pull it toward you while simultaneously pushing back on the rear bar. While wearing the heat-protective glove, wipe the surfaces of the bar with a clean, soft cloth that has been dampened with the Cleaning Solution that was included in your Accessory Pack.
  6. To clean the rear back-up bar, pull the bar toward you while simultaneously pushing back on the front bar. Clean rear bar using the same technique described in step 5.
  7. Close the machine by releasing the rear lever and pressing down on both sides of the cover. Once the latch has clicked and the cover is locked in position, the machine is ready for use.

6 Tips for Binding Books with Your Fastback 20 Binding Machine

The Fastback 20 binding system from Powis Parker is one of the most user-friendly thermal binding machines on the market, allowing even novice operators to create professional-looking bound documents in only 20 seconds with just the push of a button. In this post, we share six tips that will help make binding with the Fastback 20 as efficient as possible.

  1. Ensuring that the edges of all of the pages of your document are evenly-aligned before binding is key to creating a book that is durable and strong. Before inserting your document into the Fastback 20, firmly tap the binding edge against a flat, hard surface a few times. If you notice that your pages are uneven after you have inserted them into the binding channel and activated the book clamp, simply press the “OPEN” button to release the clamp. Jog the pages of your book and re-insert them into the machine before pressing the green “BIND” button again.
  2. The grain of your paper may impact the quality of your bind. For best results, the grain of the paper should run parallel to the binding edge. Paper that has a grain that runs parallel to the long edge of a sheet (i.e. the 11″ side of a letter-sized sheet) is referred to as being “grain long.” If the grain runs parallel to the short side of the paper (i.e. the 8-1/2″ side of a letter-sized sheet), the sheet is referred to as being “grain short.” A sheet of paper will flex more easily along the direction of its grain. Most standard copy paper is grain long, so it should work well with the Fastback 20. If you are binding with a new type of paper for the first time, it is recommended that you determine the grain and perform some test binds before doing any large production runs.
  3. Index tabs are a great way to divide the content of books. Tab dividers can be used in conjunction with the Fasback 20 binding machine, but not all styles are compatible. Many paper tabs work well, however most varieties with plastic or mylar reinforcements along the along the binding edge will not properly adhere to the adhesive used on Fastback binding strips. Contact your Fastback dealer for advice on which tabs to use with your book. It is highly recommended that you perform some test binds before doing any large projects using tab dividers.
  4. In order to allow the pages of your book to adhere to the spine, it is important that you allow the book to cool for 2 – 3 minutes after binding. The book should be placed in the cooling rack with the spine side down. Though the document can be moved out of the cooling rack after 2 – 3 minutes, it is recommended that you wait at least 5 minutes before opening it to ensure that the glue has time to set. Once set, the pages of a book bound using Super Strips can resist up to 50 lbs. of pull.
  5. Unlike books bound with traditional plastic coils or binding combs, Fastback-bound documents are completely recycleable. The adhesives that are used in the strips are environmentally-neutral, which means that they will not pollute landfills or water tables. Furthermore, the strips themselves are paper-based, making them a far more ecologically-sound binding option than plastic-based spines.
  6. Color copies that are made from older-model copy machines that use fuser oil may not bind well using the Fastback Model 20. Fuser oil and some specialty digital paper types can be difficult to adhere to, so they must be prepared with the Powis Parker Splitter Machine prior to binding. The splitter creates small slices in the binding edge of the paper, allowing the glue to penetrate the fibers and form a durable bind.

How Do I Make a Perfectback Book with the Fastback 20 Binding Machine?

You are probably aware that the Fastback 20 binding system from Powis Parker can be used to create both hardcover and softcover books using external thermal binding strips, but did you know that it can also create paperback-style books using wraparound covers? With Fastback Perfectback strips, you can create professional-looking paperback books, where the front cover, spine, and back cover are all a single piece of stock.

Perfectback-TA strips are similar to Super Strips in that they are made with thermally-activated adhesive, however the Perfectback-TA strips have a release liner in place of the decorate paper used on Super Strips. After the Perfectback-TA strip is applied to your document, the release liner is removed and the book is placed within a pre-scored cover. From there, the book is run through an additional binding cycle that will melt the adhesive and fuse the pages to the cover.

In addition to the Fastback 20 binding machine and Perfectback binding strips, you will also need a Powis Parker Scorer in order to crease your cover and prepare it for binding. The Powis Parker Scorer is specifically designed to work in conjunction with Fastback binding machines, and allows you to easily and consistently score covers for books up to 1-1/2″ thick.

Below is a step-by-step guide for binding a Perfectback book using the Fastback 20 and Perfectback-TA strips:

  1. Begin by going into the Settings and selecting “Cover Binding,” then “ON.”
  2. Arrange the inner pages of your document, then tap them repeatedly against a flat surface in order to align the edges. Place the book into the binding channel, sliding it to the right until it is flush against the side of the machine.
  3. Ensure that your pages are still aligned, then press the green “BIND” button to activate the book clamp. The machine will then measure the thickness of your book and indicate the proper strip width on the display screen located at the front of the machine.
  4. Insert the indicated size of Perfectback-TA strip into the guide on the right of the machine. The strip should be inserted with the adhesive side facing up.
  5. The binding cycle will begin automatically once the binding strip is pulled into the machine. The binding cycle will last approximately 15 – 20 seconds, after which the book clamps will open. Remove your book from the binding channel and place it into the cooling rack for 2 – 3 minutes. Note: The book should be placed directly against the cooling rack. If other books are already in the cooling rack, the new document should be placed at the back of the stack, not in front of it.
  6. While your book is cooling, prepare your cover. Ensure that it is more than large enough to wrap around your entire document on all sides. Next, you’ll need to score the cover to create creases that will allow it to bend and form the spine. For best results, it is recommended that you score with the image side of your cover facing up. Use the Powis Parker Scorer to score the cover along both edges of the spine, then place a third score near the spine on the front cover to allow it to open more easily.
  7. After the cover has been scored, make sure that the scores are placed the same distance apart as the width of the spine of your book. Gently fold your cover at the scores.
  8. Remove your document from the cooling rack, then peel off the release liner, working from one side of the book to the other.
  9. Place your document into the folded cover, ensuring that the front cover and the spine edge correspond with the front of your document.
  10. Insert the book into the binding channel, then press the green “BIND” button to close the book clamp.
  11. As soon as the book clamp opens, remove the book from the machine and tap the spine against a flat surface to ensure that the inner pages are firmly adhered to the cover. Note: If, after cooling, you find the pages of your book have not set straight, use the “EDIT” mode to re-melt the adhesive and then tap the book against a flat surface to straighten the pages.
  12. Place the finished book into the cooling rack with the spine side down and allow it to cool for 2 – 3 minutes. Note: For best results, the book should be placed directly against the cooling rack while it cools. If there are other books already in the cooling rack, the new book should be placed at the back of the stack.
  13. Use a stack cutter to trim the edges of the book as desired.

Can I Bind Books with Unusual Dimensions Using the Fastback 20 Binding System?

The Fastback 20 binding system is a versatile and effective thermal binding solution from Powis Parker that uses pre-cut binding strips to create books in as little as 20 seconds. Fastback Super Strips are available in a rainbow of eye-catching colors, three widths (narrow, medium, and wide), and two standard lengths (8-1/2″ and 11″ – note: 14″ strips are also available as a special order). Each strip length corresponds directly to the length of the book that is being bound – the 8-1/2″ strip can only be used to bind 8-1/2″ documents, and the 11″ strip can only be used to bind 11″ documents. Luckily, the Fastback 20 system can be used to bind books that have other spine lengths. Below is a step-by-step guide to binding non-standard document sizes using the Fastback Model 20.

  1. Carefully cut the Super Strip to match the length of the binding edge of your document. It is important that one side of the strip retains the small adhesive gap created during manufacturing, so make your cut along one end of the strip only.
  2. Jog the pages of your book by tapping them against a hard, flat surface, then place them into the binding channel. Ensure that the book is flush against the right side of the machine.
  3. Press the green “BIND” button to close the book clamps. The clamps will measure the thickness of your book and determine the ideal Super Strip width, which will be displayed on the panel located at the front of the machine. Note: If the pages of your book are misaligned, press the “OPEN” button to unclamp them and straighten as necessary. Press the “BIND” button to clamp the pages again.
  4. Insert your pre-cut binding strip into the guide located on the right side of the machine. The strip should be inserted with the adhesive gap first and the adhesive side up. Inserting the edge with the adhesive gap first will help to prevent adhesive from leaking into the machine. The binding cycle will begin automatically once the strip has been pulled into the machine.
  5. In approximately 15 – 20 seconds, the binding cycle will finish and the machine will beep. Move your book from the binding channel to the cooling rack, allowing it to cool in the rack for 2 – 3 minutes. You should wait at least 5 minutes before opening the book to allow the adhesive to set completely.

How Do I Bind Books with the Fastback 20 Binding Machine?

The Fastback 20 binding machine from Powis Parker is an innovative thermal binding system that transforms your reports and presentations into professional-looking, thermally-bound documents in as little as 20 seconds. Using convenient Fastback Super Strips, which have a layer of thermally-activated adhesive already applied, this machine binds books without the need for time-consuming punching or messy gluing. Below is a step-by-step guide to binding books using the Fastback Model 20.

  1. Jog the pages of your book by tapping them firmly on a flat surface. This will ensure that the edges are all aligned evenly and help to provide uniform adhesion along the entire spine.
  2. Place the book into the binding channel and slide it until it is flush against the right side of the machine.
  3. Push the green “BIND” button to close the book clamps around your document. Note: If your document is too thick to bind, the clamps will automatically re-open so that you can remove some pages. If you notice that the pages of your book are uneven after they have been clamped, press the “OPEN” button to unclamp them and straighten as necessary. Once the pages have been aligned, press the “BIND” button again to continue.
  4. As the book is clamped, the machine will measure the thickness and determine the optimum binding strip size. The display screen located on the front of the machine will indicate the appropriate strip size (either narrow, medium, or wide). Ensure that the length of the strip matches the length of your binding edge, then insert the strip into the guide on the right side of the machine with the adhesive side up. The strip will automatically be pulled into the machine and the binding cycle will begin. Note: If the binding cycle does not start automatically after the strip has been inserted, you may be prompted to insert the strip further.
  5. The binding cycle takes approximately 15 – 20 seconds to complete. When it has finished, the machine will beep and the clamps will open.
  6. Remove the finished book from the binding channel and place it into the cooling rack with the spine side down. Allow it to cool for approximately 2 – 3 minutes before removing it from the cooling rack, and allow it to cool for an additional 2 – 3 minutes before actually using your book. This will allow the adhesive to fully set.