Different types of binding machines offer different looks and durability. The best machine depends on the binding’s appearance, number of books, and usage. Types include comb, coil, wire, thermal, tape, ribbon, and saddle stitching machines, with each having its own advantages.
There are different types of binding machines and they offer different looks and durability. Choosing the best machine for a particular task may depend on what the binding should look like and how many books or documents will be bound at a time. How the book will be used is also a consideration. Some of the different types include comb, bobbin, thread, thermal, tape, ribbon, and saddle stitching machines.
Comb binding machines punch round holes in the left edge of the pages, and the comb opens as loose pages are inserted. The combs then close over a row of exactly spaced plastic rings. This method is the least flexible binding style due to the plastic spine that forms the back of the binding. Using unique locks to keep the paper from falling out, this type of binding is ideal for small, thin books.
Coil, or spiral, machines produce a binding that is less rigid and therefore more resistant than plastic comb binding. This guy will punch the holes and bind the pages together with a continuous spiral plastic coil. PVC is generally used instead of metal coils as it is less prone to warping and has no sharp edges. This type of binding works well for notebooks and legal documents.
Wire binders thread two wires through the holes made in the edge of the pages. The wires are then folded and closed together by the machine after the pages have been punched and inserted into the wire loop. Typically these machines are only used for 3:1 or 2:1 pitch binding. A pitch is the number of holes per inch (2.54 cm) along the bound edge of the page (that is, 2:1 pitch is two holes per inch along the edge of the page). Wire binding is typically used to bind larger books or documents.
Thermal binding and perfect binding machines are useful for giving manuscripts a professional look. A one-piece front and back cover are folded twice, and with thermal binding, the page edges are tucked into the pre-glued spine. The spine is then heated until the glue melts into the edge of the pages. In the case of paperback binding, the pages are rolled onto rollers coated with hot glue and inserted into the folded spine. Books and documents with thermal or perfect binding have a neat, professional look. This is often the method used to bind paperback books.
Tape machines use a strip of tape on a pre-folded cover to bind the edge of the pages together. This eliminates the time and expense of heating and drying the glue and also produces a neat, finished look.
Strip binders punch the edges of the page and feed the binding strips through the holes. The excess prongs on the strips are trimmed off the machine and the strips are sealed tightly with heat. This method has a finished look as the holes are hidden by the strips, although the bound edge is visible.
Saddle stitchers, expensive and complex, are typically used by dedicated printing companies. They punch staples through the folded edges of a number of pages. Some saddle stitchers fold and staple in one operation. These machines are most often used for binding magazines and catalogues.
Various other options include click and wire-O binding machines as well as professional quarter binding, hardcover binding, and stitch binding.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
