subject: Reviewing The Akiles Duomac 541 Combination 5:1 And 4:1 Pitch Spiral Coil Binding Machine [print this page] The Akiles DuoMac 541 is a unique binding machine in that it allows users to produce documents with both a four to one and five to one pitch binding. In the following review, we will take a more in-depth look at the DuoMac 541 and give you a list of this machine's strengths and weaknesses as we view them.
Strengths:
1.) Although there are no shortage of binding systems on the market that feature a 4 to 1 pitch punch, there are only a very few that offer you the option of binding documents with 5 to 1 pitch coil. With the DuoMac 541, however, you have the option of doing both. 5 to 1 pitch gives you a really nice, tightly bound look that is fairly professional and just a little more elegant than four to one, and it is nice to have the option to do both included in one machine. For users who prefer the look of five to one pitch coil but need to occasionally bind larger documents this machine solves a huge problem. Five to one pitch coil is only available in smaller sizes, but users of the DuoMac 541 can simply switch to four to one pitch binding for their thicker documents (over an inch).
2.) We like how Akiles saw fit to make sure to include some disengageable punching dies on the DuoMac 541 as well. In fact, both of the DuoMac 541's punching throats are open, and feature five dies that are disengageable, meaning that they are capable of handling most standard sizes of paper. Even really long sheets are possible using a two-punch process.
3.) Different thicknesses of books and booklets require different depths of hole punching from the edge of the sheets. For larger documents, it is important to punch holes a little bit further in so that the document will be more durable and the pages will turn more easily. The DuoMac 541 features two knobs on the machine's right side that allow you to adjust the depth of the punch. Also known as depth of margin punch control, this feature is a nice inclusion on the DuoMac 541.
4.) The DuoMac 541 also saw fit to throw in a pair of very high quality spiral coil crimping pliers. This is no small thing because they are so essential to the process. These pliers allow the user to crimp the ends of the wire spine so that it stays on the booklet where it belongs and doesn't twist off.
Weaknesses:
1.) We found it extremely puzzling that the DuoMac 541 includes a wire closer, but that it is essentially useless for the pitch of binding that the machine does. It is no secret or mystery that wire is not available in spacing of either four to one or five to one. It's not like the wire closer is going to cause you any trouble, we just can't figure out why it is there in the first place. We suppose you can always use it on documents that you have punched on another machine.
2.) Just as there is a wire closer that you don't need, there is a lack of a spiral coil inserter that would come in very handy on the DuoMac 541. Puzzling.
3.) This is less a weakness of the machine than of the style, but whereas you can find four to one pitch binding supplies in a wide variety of colors and styles, five to one supplies are a little harder to find, more expensive and are only available in smaller sizes.
by: Jeffrey McRitchie
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