Reviewing the Akiles DuoMac 431 Combination 4:1 Pitch Coil and 3:1 Pitch Wire Binding Machine

By: Jeff McRitchie
Submitted: 2009-11-06 15:15:00
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

The Akiles DuoMac 431 is designed to provide businesses and organizations with a single machine that can produce up to four different styles of documents. Here is a list of the strengths and weaknesses of the DuoMac 431 as we see them.

Strengths:

  1. The DuoMac 431 features two different punching throats. One produces a four to one pitch round pattern, and the other, a three to one square hole. The four to one pattern is used for spiral coil binding and the three to one can be used with twin loop wire, spiral coil, and GBC Proclick binding spines. All told, it is possible to bind your documents using four different styles with the DuoMac 431, and we consider that to be some pretty nice diversity for a combination binding system machine at this price point.
  2. On the four to one side of things, you will find an open throat design that features five disengageable dies that are placed in a way that makes it possible to punch paper that is letter, A4, A5, and half-letter sized. You can then put these documents together using spiral coil. The three to one side also features an open throat, but on this side you will find fully disengageable dies that allow for any pattern you choose, and for any length of paper up to fourteen inches. In fact with either punching mechanism, you can punch documents of virtually any length is using a two punch process. All the user needs to do is to punch one side, flip the book over, and punch the other side. To make this easy and more accurate, there is a continuous punching guide on the side of the machine.
  3. While they are only a thirty dollar value, the inclusion of high quality crimping pliers is a big plus. Inexperienced users might otherwise not be aware of how very important it is to crimp the ends of your spiral coil so that the coils will not twist off the booklet entirely.
  4. The depth of punch margin control is also a great feature and will help you ensure that your documents are both durable and usable by keeping the pages from being easily torn off. Larger documents, for example require that punches be made further from the edge of the sheets, and smaller sized documents are best served with holes that are closer to the edge.
  5. We found the wire closer that is at the front of the DuoMac 431 to be of a very high quality, and see no reason why it shouldn't stay accurate after many years of use. We also found the wire hanger very useful.

Weaknesses:

  1. For all its strengths, we do wish that the DuoMac 431 included a spiral coil inserter. Akiles recommends that this machine be paired with their Roll @ Coil for that purpose. The Roll @ Coil is not a terribly expensive machine, but the extra expense is something that you should be aware of, unless you want to end up inserting your wire spines by hand. 

If you are interested in more information about the Akiles DuoMac 431 4:1 Coil and 3:1 Wire Binding Machine you might want to visit MyBinding.com. They offer a great price on this machine and they even offer Free Shipping on all orders over $75. Plus, they carry one of the largest selections of Binding Supplies and binding covers available on the internet. Check them out today!

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Product Reviews category

  • Martin Yale 400 Paper Jogging Machine Review - By: Jeff McRitchie
    Any business that produces and binds a lot of documents on a regular basis should have a paper jogging machine on hand. Paper joggers help remove static from sheets and square up all of the document's pages before punching, binding, cutting, or folding. Here we will take a look at one of the entry-level players on the paper jogging machine market, the Martin Yale 400, and give you our assessment of this machine's strengths and weaknesses.
  • Rhino Tuff CI 3000 Coil Inserter Review - By: Jeff McRitchie
    Rhino's CI 3000 features a unique design that purports to make it easier to do spiral coil book binding. It is especially designed to excel with larger documents that use thirty six inch coil. We investigated this machine, and here are some of its strengths and weaknesses as we see them.
  • Lamitek Photosmart 13 Laminator Review - By: Jeff McRitchie
    The emergence and increasing numbers if digital printers has sparked an interest in laminating machines that can work with high-quality photos and/or glossier printed pages. The Lamitek Photosmart 13 is a laminating machine that is designed to meet this demand. In the following review, we delve into this machine, and give you a list of what we consider to be some if its strengths and weaknesses.
  • PC200E Spiral Coil Binding Machine Review - By: Jeff McRitchie
    As the least expensive spiral coil binding machine that offers disengageable dies and an electric coil inserter, the PC200E is well positioned in the marketplace. Presented as a binding solution for small or home offices, this machine has some strong features and a couple of weaknesses worth mentioning. Here is our opinion of the PC200E spiral coil binding system.
  • Martin Yale 1217A Autofolder Review - By: Jeff McRitchie
    For years the standard in paper folding machines, the Martin Yale Intimus 1217A is well-known in the small print industry for being a solid and flexible machine. Here we will take a look at some of its features, strengths and weaknesses to help you decide if it is the right folding machine for your needs.
  • Lamitek PhotoPro 13 Laminator Review - By: Jeff McRitchie
    There are many laminators available and sometimes it is hard to know which one you should buy. It is always a good idea to get a versatile machine, such as one that can do both hot and cold lamination, while also providing a crystal-clear finish. One such machine is the Lamitek PhotoPro 13 laminator (formerly called the Lamitek PhotoSmart 13). This is an economically priced laminator that would be good for laminating photographs, school projects, signs, and more. This review will talk about some of the PhotoPro 13's features so you can make an informed decision when buying your new laminator.
  • Martin Yale 700E Paper Cutter Review - By: Jeff McRitchie
    A commercial-quality paper cutter, the Martin Yale 700E is meant to be used in smaller print shops or in-house production floors for medium to large businesses. Here we take a look at the 700E's features, and give you our assessment of its strengths and weaknesses.
  • PC200 Spiral Coil Binding Machine Review - By: Jeff McRitchie
    The PC200 is positioned as a low-cost spiral coil binding solution for low volume users. Here we take a look at this machine and examine its strengths and weaknesses.
  • Intimus SmartFold 2051 Paper Folding Machine Review - By: Jeff McRitchie
    Intimus has a terrific selection of paper folding machines and one of their standout products is the SmartFold 2051. This is a machine that's super easy to operate and it can produce several different fold patterns. It'd be a good selection for any office, school, or other organization that needs a versatile, high-performance paper folding machine. Keep reading to find out more about this great paper folder.
  • Intimus Pro 32CC Cross-Cut Shredder Review - By: Jeff McRitchie
    The all new Intimus Pro 32CC paper shredder is a welcome addition to Intimus' already impressive shredder lineup. Intimus is currently one of the top shredder manufacturers and because of products like the 32CC, it's easy to see why. This review will look at the strengths of this machine (as well as its weaknesses), so you can find out whether the 32CC is a good choice for your shredding needs.