How Do I Bind with the GBC SureBind System 3 Binding Machine?

While most binding machines are capable of binding documents that are larger than 1″ thick, very few machines are able to handle ultra-thick 3″ documents. The GBC SureBind System 3 binding machine can not only bind 3″ documents, but makes binding them surprisingly easy, thanks to automatic electric punching and binding features. Below is an overview of the binding process with the GBC SureBind System 3:

  1. Begin by pushing the “On” button to power up the machine.
  2. Loosen the Punch Edge Guide Knob and adjust the guide so that the line on the decal corresponds to the line on the Punch Platen that matches your document size. Positioning the Punch Edge Guide ensures that your document will be properly punched and will not extend beyond the binding strip on either end.
  3. Select the desired punch mode. To select the “Automatic Punch Mode,” simply press the Auto Punch Button. If you will be using the “Manual Punch Mode,” do not press the Manual Punch Button until after the paper has been inserted (in the next step).
  4. Insert your document into the Punch throat. If you are using the “Automatic Punch Mode,” insert the pages just to the right of the Punch Edge Guide. If you are using the “Manual Punch Mode,” insert the document so that the pages are flush against the Punch Edge Guide. Note: The GBC SureBind System 3 has a 22-sheet maximum punch capacity (based on regular 20 lb. paper), so documents that have more than 22 pages will have to be punched in sets.
  5. Next, punch the sheets. If you are in the “Automatic Punch Mode,” sliding your document to the left (so that it is aligned with the Punch Edge Guide) will activate the punching cycle. To punch manually, simply press the Manual Punch Button. Note: It is recommended that you punch a test sheet before attempting to punch your document. Fold the punched test sheet in half and check that they are aligned along the edge of the sheet and with each other.
  6. Repeat the punching steps as necessary until all pages of your document have been punched.
  7. Press the Bind Button to place the machine into the standard binding mode (designed for documents larger than 1″ or for small reports that will need added binding strength) or press the Fast Bind Button to place the machine into the fast binding mode (designed for documents 1″ or smaller).
  8. Insert the bottom strip (the strip that has holes) into the Strip Recess so that the textured side is facing down and the small hole in the strip is aligned with the Locating Pin. When the strip is positioned properly, the hole closest to the left end of the strip will be aligned with the vertical line on the Backstop.
  9. Place the punched document onto the Bind Platen so that the document is face up (with the first sheet on the top) with the left edge aligned to the Bind Edge Guide. The punched edge should be flush against the Backstop. Note: The Bind Edge Guide is properly adjusted when the punched holes of the document are aligned with the strip holes and the left edge of the document is flush with the Bind Edge Guide.
  10. Insert the top strip (which has the pins) through the holes in the document and the bottom strip. Press the top strip down firmly until it rests against the top sheet of the document. Note: The SureBind System 3 is only compatible with 10-pin binding strips.
  11. Lower the Pressure Bar so that it is pressed against the top binding strip and the document stack.
  12. The binding cycle will begin automatically. The binding process takes approximately 16 seconds in standard mode and 10 seconds in fast mode. Once binding has been completed, the Pressure Bar will raise automatically.
  13. Your bound document can now be removed from the machine.

How Do I Debind a Document with the GBC SureBind System 3 Binding Machine?

One of the greatest benefits of binding with VeloBind thermal binding strips is that the resulting books are tamper-resistant and secure. A number of manual tools are available on the market to help enable people to debind and revised their Velo-bound documents, but most are difficult and time-consuming to use. The GBC SureBind System 3 binding machine features an automated debinding process that makes it easy to remove the spine from bound documents so that they can be edited. Below is an overview of how to debind a document using the GBC SureBind System 3:

  1. Begin by placing your bound document into the GBC SureBind System 3 binding machine so that the bound side is against the Backstop and the edge is flush against the Bind Edge Guide. Ensure that the small hole in the bottom strip is aligned with the Locating Pin located in the Strip Recess. Note: The Locating Pin is used to center the strip during the debinding process. The hole on the bottom strip must be aligned with the Locating Pin for proper machine operation.
  2. Once the document has been properly situated in the machine, press the Debind Button to put the machine into debind mode.
  3. Lower the Pressure Bar onto the document so that it is aligned with the binding spine and is applying pressure onto the document. The machine will automatically begin the debinding process once the Pressure Bar has been lowered.
  4. Immediately after the Pressure Bar raised, remove the document from the machine and peel the top strip off (starting at one end and pulling the strip up and toward the other end). The debinding process takes approximately 25 seconds. Note: Be sure to immediately remove the document once debinding has been completed. Allowing the document to sit for too long will make the spine difficult to remove.
  5. Press either the Standard Bind Button or the Fast Bind Button to return the machine to binding mode.

Your document can now be revised as desired and bound with a new binding strip. This technique is an excellent way to bind documents that will grow over time – such as financial reports or legal documents – because they will remain secure until you choose to debind them. Furthermore, the GBC SureBind System 3 is one of only a handful of machines that is capable of binding documents as large as 3″ thick, and it does so in as little as 16 seconds.

How Do I Bind with the GBC P75 ProClick Spine Closer and Finisher?

The GBC P75 ProClick spine closing and finishing machine works exclusively with GBC ProClick binding spines to create attractive and secure bound documents. Using either pre-punched paper or pages punched with a ProClick punch machine, the GBC P75 quickly and easily inserts and closes ProClick spines with minimal effort from the user. Below is an overview of how to use the GBC P75:

GBC P75 ProClick Closer
  1. Begin by printing your document onto paper that has been pre-punched in the 32-hole ProClick pattern, or by punching your document using your ProClick punch machine. If you choose to use pre-punched paper, consult the your printer’s manual to determine the correct settings before attempting to print your document. It is highly recommended that you print a test page to ensure the correct orientation before attempting to run any full documents.
  2. Place the front binding cover on top of your document, and then place the back cover on top of the front cover so that the inside of the back cover is facing up. Arranging your covers in this order ensures that the backbone of the ProClick spine will be hidden within your document, which results in a more professional finished book.
  3. Open the lid of the ProClick P75 unit so that it is fully open.
  4. Place the entire document into the unit so that it lays flat with all of the holes aligned at the bottom of the tray.
  5. Use the document thickness guide that is located on the sides of the machine in order to determine the correct ProClick spine size. Each step on the guide indicates the maximum thickness a document can be for each ProClick size. Note: If your document is close to the maximum allowable thickness, try using the next size up for easier page turning.
  6. Adjust the machine based on the correct ProClick spine size by sliding the switches located on both sides of the machine either up or down (depending on the spine size). Note: Be sure to set the machine to the correct spine size to avoid improper spine closure.
  7. Ensure that you have the correct spine size by using the ProClick size guide on the front of the machine. Place the spine horizontally into the binding channel at the front of the machine so that the prongs face away from you. Note: The spine should be completely open. Do not try to close the spine before placing it into the machine.
  8. Use both hands to rotate the closing dials located on the front of the machine. Keep turning the dials until the color in the correct ProClick size window changes to red.
  9. After the spine has been closed, lift the document off of the machine.
  10. Return the closing dials to their original positions.

How Do I Bind with the GBC CombBind C800Pro Binding Machine?

The GBC CombBind C800Pro is a heavy-duty comb binding machine that makes creating your own custom books easy. Below are the instructions for binding a document using the GBC CombBind C800Pro:

GBC CombBind C800Pro
  1. Begin by adjusting the punching depth margin. The black dial on the right side of the GBC CombBind C800Pro is the four-position depth selector that is used to adjust the margin between the punched holes and the binding edge of the paper. The margin can be adjusted from as little as 1/16″ up to 3/16″. Note: Wider margins allow the pages of thick documents to turn more easily and help to create a bind that is more secure. 
  2. Disengage pins as necessary based on the length of your document. This model has a total of 21 disengageable dies to accommodate practically any document length. To punch the standard 19-hole comb binding pattern that is used to bind the 11″ side of letter-sized documents, simply disengage the first and last dies by gently pulling on the corresponding pins.
  3. Align your pages so that the edges are even, using either a paper jogger (recommended for large-volume binding projects) or by tapping your document against your work surface. Insert up to 25 pages (based on regular 20 lb. paper; sheets of thicker paper or cover stock will reduce the punching capacity) into the punching throat, using the side guide to ensure properly alignment.
  4. Step on the foot pedal to engage the dies and punch your document.
  5. For larger production runs, use the black knob located on the left side of the machine to lock in comb opening settings. Using the knob will allow you to automatically stop the handle at the same position every time for faster binding. Turn the knob clockwise to open, pull the binding handle to the desired opening (using a comb of the correct size in the comb opener as a guide), then turn the knob counterclockwise to lock in the setting.
  6. Insert the binding comb with the open side up, aligning the tines of the comb between the metal rake.
  7. Pull the binding handle forward to open the comb. The tips of the tines should be pointing upward with enough space to place the document onto them.
  8. Insert the paper vertically so that the front cover faces toward you.
  9. Once all of the sheets have been inserted onto the tines, lay the document flat on the top of the machine and return the handle to the upright position to close the comb.
  10. Lift the book vertically to remove it from the machine and complete the bind.