| Fastback is a fast and professional method of binding | | | | covers. It is important to keep in mind, however, that |
| that creates a clean and polished document. Powis | | | | the machine heats up to an amazing 400° and will |
| Parker offers a variety of binding machines, the most | | | | cause most clear and poly covers to warp (the heat |
| common of which is the FB15xs. The FB15xs is | | | | causes a wave effect along the binding edge). There |
| capable of binding a document from 2 to 350 sheets, | | | | are a variety of high temp clear covers that can |
| or 1 ½" thick in as little as 15 seconds. The | | | | withstand this intense heat without warping. |
| process is very easy and virtually eliminates the | | | | - As with all thermal binding systems, Fastback does |
| possibility of operator error that may occur in punch | | | | have problems with certain papers. Thermal adhesive |
| and bind systems: | | | | have a hard time sticking to certain calendered paper |
| | | | stocks. Calendered paper is an ultra smooth paper |
| 1. Square the pages of the book block together with | | | | stock that resembles a glossy or coated stock and is |
| the front and back covers. | | | | very popular for use with digital printers. Powis Parker |
| 2. Fan the pages of the book block. This is an | | | | has created the new CP strip to combat however it is |
| important step in all thermal binding applications and | | | | not as secure of a bind as the traditional strip with |
| helps to ensure that adhesive will make contact with | | | | regular copy paper. Some users have used sand |
| the individual pages. | | | | paper to roughen the spine of the paper to create a |
| 3. Place the book block into the opening on top of the | | | | more porous binding edge with varied results. The best |
| Fastback FB15xs. Use the clear fence to hold the | | | | fix is to staple the binding edge of the book block prior |
| pages upright and make sure that the book is flush to | | | | to binding. This works well for some thermal binding |
| the right and the pages are square. | | | | applications and hard covers. |
| 4. Depress the large green bind button, causing the | | | | - In addition to paper stocks, some printers can cause |
| clamp to close. | | | | issues as well. Most laser printers use fuser oil to |
| 5. The machine will indicate the proper size of binding | | | | cause the toner to adhere to the paper. Some printers |
| strip to use. Simply begin to insert the strip into the | | | | use an excessive amount of oil that can coat the |
| opening on the right side of the machine. The FB15xs | | | | paper to the point that the adhesive may not be able |
| will take the strip and automatically begin the binding | | | | to penetrate the paper. This tends to be more of a |
| process. | | | | problem when binding a bleed. The result is that the |
| 6. Once the binding process is complete, remove the | | | | paper may slip out of the bind. The toner will remain in |
| book and place it into the cooling rack located on the | | | | the adhesive and the edge of the paper will be white. |
| back of the binding machine. | | | | As with difficult paper stocks, the best method to fix |
| 7. Wait until the book is cool to the touch before use. | | | | this problem is to staple the book block. |
| While Fastback if an extremely easy system to use, it | | | | - While the FB15xs does have an edit feature that is |
| does have a couple of limitations: | | | | limited to the addition or deletion of only a few pages. |
| - One nice feature of Fastback is that virtually any | | | | Wholesale changes to a document are not feasible |
| cover stock can be used for the front and back | | | | with Fastback. |
