What’s Your Game Plan?
Happy medium
A doctoring blade can only do its job of wiping away excess ink if its contact angle is just right. Improper angles can lead to inconsistent printing and damage to anilox rolls or gravure cylinders.
When setting up a gravure print job, the press operator must adjust the doctor blade to the appropriate angle (between 55–65 degrees). With too low of an angle, an excess amount of ink passes under the doctor blade, carrying unwanted ink to the substrate, says Paul Sharkey, president, FLXON Inc. Too steep of an angle removes too much ink, he says. “A lot of the newer presses have gauges on the press to set the proper angles. The only information you will need is the cylinder diameter or circumference,” says Johnny Stamey, technical product manager, Max Daetwyler. If the press does not have gauges, he suggests using an angle measuring tool to set the proper angle based on the cylinder size. Sean Teufler, technical graphics advisor, Harper Graphic Solutions, recommends checking system alignment during preventative maintenance and at least once a week to ensure the lightest pressure is used without ink or coating leakage.
