MyBinding Knowledge Base
How do I adjust the end position and wrap on the Fastback model 15xs?
For most users, using the Fastback 15xs is as simple as inserting your book and pressing the Bind button. However, occasionally you may want or need to adjust some of the more advanced features on your machine. This article will provide instructions for changing two such features. It will tell you how to adjust the end position of your strip so that it lines up with the edge of your book. It will also provide instructions for adjusting the wrap of your strip so that more or less of the strip wraps around onto the front cover of your document.
Setting the Strip End Position:
When you bind a book, the inserted end of the strip aligns with the edge of your book that is on your left. We’ll call this end of the book the “top” of the book. Occasionally you’ll get a strip that doesn’t quite reach the top of your book, or a strip that goes a little past the top. You can correct this by adjusting the strip’s end position.
You can find this feature in the Special Functions menu on your fastback and it is called “STRIP-END”. Here is how to adjust the strip end setting…
1. After selecting the STRIP END feature, the default message is:
2. You can now adjust the strip end in increments of .008 of an inch. Pressing the OPEN button shifts the strip to the left; pressing the EDIT button shifts the strip to the right. In other words, if you press OPEN, the strip will move towards the top of the book. If you press EDIT, the strip will move towards the bottom of the book.
3. When you have finished changing this setting, press BIND.
4. Insert the correct width strip and begin binding. During binding, the screen briefly displays the changed strip-end position.
Setting the Wrap for Superstrips and Perfectback strips
This feature allows you to adjust how the strip wraps around your book. Usually the Superstrip is centered on the book’s spine, and it wraps around the book equally on the front and on the back. The Fastback is designed to wrap the Perfectback strip higher around the back than the front. But you can change this with the “SET WRAP” feature. You can shift the strip so it wraps around more on the front or on the back. Also, if it isn’t wrapping evenly, then you can adjust it so that it does.
1. Press BIND to select “SET WRAP.” From here, you have three choices: SUPERSTRIP-WRAP, PERFECTBACK-WRAP, and EXIT?. Make your selection according to the binding style that you are currently using.
2. After selecting the current binding style the default display is “EVEN WRAP” for Superstrip, or “DEFAULT WRAP” for Perfectback. To change this, use the OPEN and EDIT buttons. Pressing OPEN subtracts from the setting, shifting the strip towards the back. Pressing EDIT adds to the setting, shifting the strip towards the front.
3. When you finish adjusting this setting, press BIND. During binding, the binder briefly flashes a message to show the wrap change.
4. In the Superstrip SET WRAP mode, one of the options is “Minimum Front Wrap.” To select this feature, use the OPEN button to decrease the wrap past minus 7 units until the screen displays “MIN. FRONT WRAP.” This feature wraps the strip around your document so that the smallest possible amount of strip wraps onto the front cover. Press BIND to select this feature.
5. In the Perfectback SET-WRAP mode, one of the options is EVEN. To select this feature, use the EDIT button to increase the wrap past plus 7 units until the screen displays “EVEN-WRAP.” This feature wraps the front and the back of the Perfectback strip evenly on each side. Press BIND to select this feature.
< Over the years, a number of customers have asked me whether they can use twin loop wire with their plastic comb binding machine. These customers often don’t want to have to buy a brand new machine but like the look and feel of twin loop wire binding. However, the answer to their question isn’t as simple as it seems. You see, they actually do make twin loop wire that is designed to work with the plastic comb binding hole pattern. With that said, if you want to use these wires you are going to need a way to close the wires. What is Spiral-O Wire? Let me explain a little bit more…There is a product that we carry called Spiral-O Wire. This wire has 19 loops and is designed to work with the hole pattern from a plastic comb binding machine. Spiral-O Wire is sometimes called Wire Combs or Ibico Wire and was originally designed for use with some of the older Ibico binding machines. A number of the older Ibico plastic comb binding machines also included a twin loop wire closer on the front of them to allow users to use both plastic combs and wire. This 19 loop wire was designed for this purpose. What Equipment is Needed? As the Ibico brand has been phased out by GBC and all of the older Ibico plastic binding machines have been replaced with new models, they no longer have the twin loop wire closer on the front of them. This presents a problem in trying to use these spiral-o wires since you can’t use the wires without a way to close them. One of the only options left is to purchase a Twin Loop wire closer. However, since twin loop wire closers are not incredibly cheap this option usually only appeals to users who have larger electric plastic comb binding machines. Otherwise, it is often advisable to simply buy a low end 3:1 pitch twin loop wire binding machine (the supplies are cheaper). This being said, if you have one of the older Ibico binding machines that has a wire closer included you are in luck. The Spiral-O binding supplies that we carry will work perfectly with your machine and you will be able to use both plastic combs and wire depending on your needs. These Spiral-O binding supplies are available in Black, Silver, White, Blue and Red and in sizes up to 1″ in diameter. If you aren’t sure what type of wire binding supplies that you need to work with your machine simply give us a call. Our trained sales representatives will be glad to help you find the correct supplies for use with your machine.(Read More)
