CNC Milling Machines

Posts Tagged ‘Binding’

Overview:

The Akiles Megabind 2 is a heavy-duty legal sized manual plastic comb binding machine, made by Akiles, a manufacturer of equipment with a reputation for high-quality desktop binding systems. Legal sized comb binders can be difficult to find, and well-made, well-engineered legal-sized comb binders are nearly impossible to find, but your search can end with the Megabind 2. The machine is similar to its predecessor, the Akiles Megabind 1, but includes a built-in wire closer for added functionality. This additional feature makes the Megabind 2 more efficient, easier and a bit more like the older, highly-popular Ibico binding machines.

Features:

This manual plastic comb binding machine has disengageable dies, giving you the ability to punch any length of document up to 14 inch with a single punch. In addition, the machine’s open-throat design allows you to punch longer documents with a two step punch process. The features don’t end with lengths of documents, however, but also with depth. The Megabind 2 has a depth of margin control, which allows you to choose the distance of the holes from the edge of the paper.

The Megabind 2 also offers a heavy-duty legal length plastic comb opener, and a wire closer that allows it to be used with 19 loop spiral O wire, or ibiwire, as it is sometimes known. . This feature is specifically for a 19 loop comb binding pattern, which the majority of comb binding machines cannot accommodate. This gives the Megabind 2 an edge over the competition, and makes the machine unique in its class to provide excellent added value.

Finally, the Megabind 2 Includes a convenient size selector on the binding table. This additional feature will allow you to choose the right size of spine for your documents, quickly and consistently – every time. This is truly a sought-after and valuable feature in a binding machine.

Limitations:

The Megabind 2 is well-built, extremely functional machine, but it does have a few limitations. For instance, it can only bind documents up to 9/16″ with spiral o wire. Documents larger than 9/16″ will need to be bound with combs, not wire, which can be a problem depending on your preferences.

In addition, the spiral-o wire is more difficult to come by that either plastic combs or standard twin loop wire, and you can’t purchase the standard 3:1 pitch wire at all for the machine – so buying the right supplies for this machine is critical.

The manual punch on this machine is great for low to medium volume users, but not efficient for high volume production, where an electric machine would be better suited. In addition, the horizontal wire closer is a little bit more difficult to use and master than the vertical variety on most Akiles wire binding machines.

Construction:

Like other Akiles models, this machine is extremely well-built, with heavy duty all metal construction. This includes the solid, well-made wire closer that holds-up very well for moderate binding volume, although higher-volume users may consider a heavy- duty stand-alone-wire closer instead. If you are a medium-sized operation, however, with a low to medium volume, the Megabind 2 is exactly the type of binding machine you need.

Even though this machine is backed by a 1-year Akiles warranty, its very doubtful that you will ever need it. The quality of this wonderfully-made biding machine is really that incredible. The Megbind 2 is truly built to last, and last it does.

Recommendation:

This machine is an excellent value and is highly-recommended among manual plastic comb binding machines. It gives you the ability to use plastic combs, spiral-o wire and Zipbind spines and holds up under a great deal of use. Even with it’s heavy-duty construction, however, the Megabind 2 It should not be used to punch more than 2 clear covers at a time or to punch metal, wood or other non paper materials. Other than these minor limitations, the Megabind 2 is a great value and a big bang for your buck!

Overview:

The Rhino Tuff HD7700H takes the design and the features of the HD7700 and flips the punching mechanism for users who prefer a horizontal punching throat.
Although the machine looks a lot different from the vertical 7700 this machine includes all of the great features including the large punching capacity, chip tray, easy die change and heavy duty construction.
In fact, many users find that the HD7700-H is actually a little bit easier to use than the standard HD7700 vertical punch. Especially for operators that are used to using a horizontal feed punch such as the GBC Magnapunch or 111PM.
The HD7700 is not only easy to use but also has a huge number of features that are simply not included on other heavy duty binding punches. These help to set the HD7700 apart from its competition.

Strengths / Features:

One of the most impressive things about the HD7700H is its punching capacity. Depending on the hole-pattern that you are punching this machine can punch as many as 55 sheets of paper at one time. As a rule, the more holes that you are trying to punch at once the less sheets you can punch. Thus, this machine can punch 55 sheets of paper when punching a three-hole or Velobind hole pattern and only 40 sheets of paper when punching a 4:1 pitch spiral coil pattern. No other modular binding punch comes even close to these numbers.
The HD7700 Horizontal uses the Rhino Tuff patented quick die change technology. All you need to do in order to switch punching patterns is to release the die locks and slide the old die out of the machine, you can then slide a new die set into the slot and lock it in place. There are twelve standard dies and fourteen custom dies for the HD7700H giving you a huge selection of punching options with this machine.
Although other modular binding punches on the market offer fourteen inch punching throats, not all of their dies are fourteen inches wide. However, with the 7700H all of the dies are fourteen inches wide. This means that you can punch legal sized sheets of paper in one step. Plus, the open throat on this machine allows you to punch longer sheets using a two step punching process.
The horizontal design of the HD7700-H makes this punch simple to use and easy to load. For years many of the largest and highest quality binding punches have been horizontal and many experienced operators have come to prefer this orientation. This machine comes standard with a foot pedal to operate the punch. However, users can order a versa switch for paper activated punching or a palm switch for push button punching.
When it comes to construction, the HD7700H sets the standard for heavy duty punches. The case, internal components, die set and even the chip tray are made of heavy duty steel and other metal alloys. This machine is designed to be used every day in a high volume print shop or bindery without having any problems. The HD-7700H comes with a one year warranty on both the die set and the machine which shows just how confident that Rhino is in their equipment.
On top of all of these features I have already listed there are a number of other great things that help to set this machine apart from its completion. It has an extra large chip tray and a manual reverse feature to help clear paper jams. It even has an LED display to tell you if your die isn’t loaded correctly.

Weaknesses / Limitations:

One of the weaknesses of this machine is simply its size. In order to convert the HD7700 into a horizontal punch without completely redesigning it Rhino simply flipped the existing machine on its end and attached it to a heavy duty base. The resulting machine is massive. It weighs over one hundred pounds and measures 21″ x 21″ x 19″. This is a big machine.
The big claim to fame of the HD7700H is that it can punch more paper than any other punch on the market. However in my tests, the punching quality was extremely poor when I tried to punch the maximum capacity of this machine. The holes were ragged and the sheets of paper became welded together from the extreme force that was exerted to punch the holes. In some cases the paper even buckled between the holes. In order to achieve a good punch quality I had to punch half or less of the maximum. This was disappointing especially for a machine that is often used to create jobs that customers pay a great deal of money for.
The HD7700H is an industrial punching solution and as such it has a look that is industrial. This is fine for a print shop, bindery or production floor. However, this machine will have a tendency to stick out like a sore thumb in an office environment. If you are concerned with asthetics and noise you will want to find a place in your office that is out of the public eye to place this machine.
When Rhin-O-Tuff turned the HD7700 on its end and made it into a horizontal punch they ruined several of the features of the machine. The vertical model can be combined with an auto feed system to become a semi-automatic punch, the horizontal cannot. Likewise, the vertical model is designed to have pieces of finishing equipment or a die rack attached to the top of the machine. The horizontal isn’t designed for this. Your finishing equipment will have to have its own place on your countertop or work area.
In comparing this machine to the GBC Magnapunch (its major competitor) there is no question that this machine has more features. However, the Magnapunch has a faster punching cycle, a sleeker design and most of my customers prefer using it to this machine. They find it easier to use, easier to change the dies and less complicated than this machine.

Recommendation:

The HD7700-Horizontal binding punch is a great fit for high volume printers, binderies, copy shops and other organizations that are looking for a feature rich binding machine that can punch a lot of paper at one time.
It has a legal sized punching throat, a huge assortment of dies and is one of the best built binding punches that is available on the market.
The HD7700H is built for high volume users who prefer a horizontal punch and want an extremely durable punching machine.
However, users who are concerned about punching quality, space issues and appearance may want to consider the GBC Magnapunch as an alternative to this machine. The Magnapunch is faster, easier to use and has long been the standard for heavy duty modular binding punches.