* The DuoMac 541 is the only machine of its kind. It includes a unique design that allows users to punch both a 5:1 pitch hole pattern for spiral coil binding and a 4:1 pitch hole pattern for spiral coil binding.
* Normally, you would have to use two different binding machines to do the same tasks as the DuoMac 541. This means that the DuoMac 541 can save you space, time and money.
Strengths / Features:
* The DuoMac541 is capable of binding documents with both 4:1 and 5:1 pitch spiral coil. Although there are a large number of 4:1 pitch coil binding machines available on the market there are very few machines capable of binding documents with 5:1 pitch coil. With this machine, you can choose the pitch of coil that you want to use depending on the size of your document or the look that you prefer.
* Both punching throats on the 541 Duomac include five disengageable punching pins. Using these punching pins it is possible to use this machine with all of the most common sizes of paper. Each punch is capable of handling documents up to thirteen inches in length. However, the throats on both punching heads are open so that you can punch longer paper using a two step process.
* On the right hand side of the machine you will notice two small knobs. These knobs are used to adjust the punching margin on this machine. You can set the machine to punch the holes closer to the edge of your paper for smaller sized documents or further away for larger sized documents. Using this feature you can maximize the strength of your bound documents while ensuring that the pages turn freely on your coils.
* The DuoMac 541 also includes a high quality pair of spiral coil crimping pliers to help you finish your documents. These pliers are used to cut and crimp the ends of your bound document so that the spiral coil does not spin back off the edge of your book.
Weaknesses / Limitations:
* The DuoMac 541 is built on the same platform as all of the other machines in the Akiles Duo Mac line of binding machines. This means that it includes a wire closer. However, the wire closer is essentially useless on this machine. Wire is not available in either 4:1 or 5:1 spacing. This simply means that you will need to ignore the closer or use it with documents that are punched on another machine.
* Oddly enough, the DuoMac 541 includes a wire closer that you don't need and is missing a spiral coil inserter that would be really handy. Akiles suggests that you purchase this machine with a Roll @ Coil modular coil inserter. This is an excellent idea. Without a coil inserter you will end up having to spin all of the spines onto the edge of your document by hand.
* This machine can bind documents with both 4:1 pitch and 5:1 pitch spiral coil. However, you are still limited to the supplies that are available for each pitch. Four to one pitch coils are available in a huge variety of sizes and colors. However, five to one pitch coils are only available in sizes up to 25mm. Five to one pitch coils also tend to be slightly more expensive and a little bit harder to find than their four to one pitch counterparts.
* Although this machine is extremely well built, it is still a manual binding machine. Organizations who need to bind large numbers of documents or extremely large documents will most likely find the manual nature of this machine is fairly tedious. As a general rule, the DuoMac 541 is a good fit for companies that need to bind up to fifty documents per week. Companies that bind more than this may want to investigate a larger electric binding system.
Recommendation:
* The Duomac 541 is an excellent choice for a company who wants the flexibility to choose between four to one and five to one pitch spiral coil binding. No other desktop machine offers this flexibility.
* Like the entire line of Akiles equipment this machine is built with precision components and is known for its quality and durability.
* However, users who do decide to purchase this machine should really consider buying a coil inserter to increase productivity in assembling documents.
*This makes it ideal for organizations that need to do more than one type of binding or who want one look for their internal communication and another look for their customer presentations and proposals.
*The DuoMac-C41 includes all of the features of two complete binding machines in one convenient package can even be shared between two departments with different presentation needs.
Strengths / Features:
*This is the only desktop binding machine that can bind documents with both Plastic Combs and 4:1 pitch spiral coil. It includes two different punching slots. One produces the rectangular holes used for 19 ring plastic comb binding. The other produces a pattern with four round holes per inch. It also includes a plastic comb opener for finishing documents with plastic combs and a wire closer for use with Spiral-O wire combs.
*This machine can bind documents with four different binding styles: GBC Style Plastic Binding Combs, Spiral-O Wire 19 Loop Wire-Combs, 4:1 Pitch Spiral Coil and GBC Zipbind.
*The DuoMac C41 offers the ability to bind both small and large sized documents. Each punching throat has its own depth of punch margin control allowing you to control the distance of the holes from the edge of the document. This will allow you to bind documents with spines as small as 3/16" and as large as 2" in diameter.
*The DuoMac C41 offers fully disengageable dies and a legal width punching throat for plastic comb binding. This allows users to bind any length of document up to fourteen inches with plastic combs. The 4:1 pitch coil punching throat is thirteen inches in length and has five strategically placed disengageable pins that allow it to be used with the most common sizes of documents. Both punches are open ended and can be used for punching longer documents.
*This is an extremely durable binding machine that is made from heavy duty metal components. The DuoMac C41 system is built with the same quality as the other machines in the Akiles line of binding equipment and comes with a one year warranty for both parts and labor.
Weaknesses / Limitations:
*Although Akiles was able to include a huge variety of features on this machine, there was only room for so many things. The one major component that this machine is missing is a spiral coil inserter for use with the 4:1 pitch punch. Akiles recommends purchasing a Roll-@-Coil inserter along with this machine in order to increase productivity in binding documents with coil.
*With so many features and components on one machine, the DuoMac begins to look a little bit like an octopus. This machine has four handles, one wheel and a number of different knobs. It is a fairly large machine and can be a little bit confusing to operate, especially for inexperienced users.
*Although the Duomac C41 is a heavy duty binding machine, it is no match for a modular electric binding punch. This machine is designed for organizations that need to bind a maximum of fifty to a hundred documents per week. Organizations that need to bind more documents than this should really consider a machine with an electric punch.
Recommendation:
*The Akiles DuoMac C41 is an ideal choice for organizations that are looking to bind documents with both plastic combs and 4:1 pitch spiral coil.
*The construction of this machine is excellent and it offers a level of flexibility and versatility that is simply not available from other binding systems.
*In order to get the most out of the DuoMac-C41, it should really be combined with a spiral coil inserter such as the Akiles Roll @ Coil.
However, even when combined with a coil inserter, high volume users should consider a modular binding punch instead of this system.