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:
- A strip has become jammed in the feed bar. Follow the instructions shown in the “Clear Jam” animation, or see “How Do I Remove a Jammed Strip from my Fastback 20 Binding Machine?“
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.