Doctor Blade Installation Checklist
Doctor blade installation checklist
Last updated October 2026
A doctor blade installation checklist walks press operators through handling, orientation and pressure in the order they do them. This one-page Flexo Concepts TruPoint® checklist fits at the press, so every changeover is set up the same way the first time.
- HandlingInspect the edge along its full length and clean the holder before the blade goes in.
- OrientationSeat it flat, tighten in the right sequence, and hold a 28° to 32° blade angle. Diagrams for top metering, bottom metering, reverse angle and positive angle.
- PressureA four-step pressure scale that shows operators exactly when to stop, and what streaking is telling them.
Get the checklist
Tell us where to find you, then pick the version for your blade profile on the next page.
Unlock the full checklistBuilt for the pressroom, not the filing cabinet
Every step is a checkbox. Every orientation has a diagram. The pressure scale turns “feel” into something an operator can see on the anilox roll: start at light contact, increase slowly, and hold at a satin roll.
- Two versions: one for bevel-tip blades, one for MicroTip blades
- Letter size, ready to print and laminate
- QR code links straight to the installation video
What angle should a doctor blade be set at?
A doctor blade should be set between 28° and 32° to the anilox roll. Seat the blade flat and fully in the holder with no ripples, then tighten from the center out, or from one end straight across to the other, so the TruPoint doctor blade meets the anilox roll evenly along its length.
The checklist shows the correct setup for top metering, bottom metering, reverse angle and positive angle, so operators can match the diagram to the press in front of them. For the reasoning behind each step, read Doctor Blade Installation: 3 Keys to Success.
How much pressure should a doctor blade have?
A doctor blade needs only light, even pressure. Bring the holder or chamber in gradually until both ends touch the anilox roll at the same time, then increase pressure slowly until the roll changes from a glossy to a satin finish. Hold it there. Streaking means too much pressure.
Faint lines at startup are normal and fade on their own. More pressure past the satin point does not clean the roll better; it wears the blade and the anilox faster. The checklist’s four-step scale (start, adjust, stop, too far) gives operators a visual target instead of a guess.
How do you fix common doctor blade setup problems?
Most doctor blade setup problems trace back to one of three steps: a damaged or poorly seated blade, uneven contact across the anilox roll, or too much pressure. The table below matches what operators see on press to its likely cause and the fix from the TruPoint installation checklist.
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Streaking on the print | Too much blade pressure | Back off until the roll shows a satin finish |
| Anilox roll still looks glossy | Not enough pressure yet | Increase pressure slowly, then hold at satin |
| Faint lines right after startup | Normal break-in of a new blade | Keep running; they fade on their own |
| One end of the blade not touching | Holder or chamber brought in unevenly | Bring it in gradually until both ends touch at the same time |
| Ripples along the blade | Blade not seated flat in the holder | Reseat it fully, then tighten from the center out |
| Nicks, bends or kinks on the edge | Damage before installation | Inspect the full length and use an undamaged blade |
What is the difference between bevel and MicroTip doctor blades?
Bevel and MicroTip are two TruPoint doctor blade edge profiles. A bevel blade has a single angled tip, while a MicroTip blade has a thin, stepped tip with a narrow contact edge. MicroTip blades carry printed arrows that point to the contact edge, so they must be installed facing the anilox roll.
That orientation difference is why the checklist comes in two versions. Both share the same handling and pressure steps; the MicroTip version adds how to read the printed face. You can see the full process on press in the doctor blade installation video.
Doctor blade installation FAQ
Do I need a different checklist for bevel and MicroTip doctor blades?
Yes. The handling and pressure steps are the same for both profiles, but orientation is different. A MicroTip doctor blade has a printed face with arrows that must point to the anilox roll, and installing it backwards puts the wrong edge in contact. The MicroTip version of the checklist shows how to read that printed face.
The bevel version covers four setups instead: top metering, bottom metering, reverse angle and positive angle. If you run both profiles, download both versions and post each one at the presses that use it.
How do I know which way to install a MicroTip doctor blade?
Look at the printed face of the MicroTip doctor blade. The printed arrows point to the contact edge, and that edge goes against the anilox roll. When the blade is seated in the holder, the arrows should point toward the roll.
Seat the blade flat and fully in the holder, check for ripples, and tighten from the center out before bringing the holder or chamber in. The MicroTip checklist shows each of these views with a labeled diagram.
Why are there lines on the print after installing a new doctor blade?
Faint lines right after startup are normal with a new doctor blade and fade on their own as the blade settles against the anilox roll. Streaking that doesn’t fade is different: it means the blade has too much pressure on the roll.
If you see streaking, back the pressure off until the anilox roll shows a satin finish and hold it there. Adding pressure to fix print problems usually makes them worse and wears the blade and the anilox roll faster.
What doctor blade setups does the checklist cover?
The bevel checklist covers top metering, bottom metering, reverse angle and positive angle setups. The MicroTip checklist covers top metering and reverse angle, plus how to read the blade’s printed face. Both versions include the same handling and pressure steps.
Each setup has a diagram showing how the doctor blade meets the anilox roll, so operators can match it to their press. The target blade angle in every case is 28° to 32°.
