How many times have you requested a box of this or a sample of that and had a winner right away? When testing a new product, the chances of success go way up with a little communication between the customer and the supplier. It’s no different with doctor blades. Like other parts of the printing process, investing a little time and effort in a doctor blade trial vs. sampling will improve your odds of finding the best blade for your application.
取样与试验
There are two ways to test a new doctor blade: a sample and a doctor blade trial. The critical difference is the information that is exchanged between you and your doctor blade supplier. While both offer the chance for you to try something new, a trial greatly increases your probability of success.
取样
If you’ve ever requested a doctor blade sample, you probably submitted your request through the company’s website, waited several days, and received your new blade samples in the mail. They may have sat on your desk for a while until you were reminded of the reason you requested the samples in the first place and installed them in your press. If you were lucky, the blades worked well and you proceeded with your first order.
不过，如果您和大多数公司一样，需要经过几轮抽样才能找到合适的人选。 这需要您持续的努力和耐心。 对于刮刀，不同的刀片材料、厚度或 刀尖可能需要不同的刀片材料、厚度或刀尖，您需要不断祈祷，希望最终能找到合适的组合。
试用
An alternative to sampling a new blade is a doctor blade trial. When you perform a blade trial, your odds of finding the right product go up significantly. Through communication and participation in a production run, the supplier acquires key information about your process. This information is used to zero in on the ideal product for your application and shortens your path to finding the right doctor blade.
Doctor Blade Trial Process:
1. Initiation of Blade Trial – You request a blade trial from your doctor blade supplier. The supplier will take the time to learn about your process and ask questions regarding your press and application:
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- 新闻类型
- 按压速度
- 运行长度
- 打印类型
- 网纹辊生产线筛网
- 腔体类型
- 基质
- Ink type
- Problems with ink lay-down
然后，供应商将提出建议，并提供用于生产的刮刀片。
Doctor blade supplier assisting with a blade trial
2.生产运行- 刀片供应商应积极参与生产运行。 他将确认收集到的所有应用信息，验证刀片是否已 安装正确确保腔体正确对齐，并在必要时帮助进行调整。 运行结果以及印刷机操作员面临的任何挑战都将记录在案。
3. Analysis and Evaluation – Following the production run, the used blades are returned to the supplier’s facility where the engineering department is engaged to do a complete evaluation. The engineering team will assess the worn blades and look at how much wear has occurred, the contact length of the worn area and the contact angle of the blade. These findings will reveal how the blade performed on press. By looking at the wear patterns, the engineers can also determine whether the chamber was aligned to the anilox roll, if the blades were positioned properly and if there was too much pressure on the chamber. A complete report containing these results is provided to you. These results may be used to make improvements to your current process.
4. Feedback and Recommendation – After the blades are analyzed by the engineering department, the blade supplier will either confirm that the blades were successful in the application or recommend a different blade based on the results (such as different blade material, thickness or tip configuration). Having taken the time to gather all important information about the press and application, the supplier will be able to provide the doctor blade that maximizes press efficiency and resolves any issues he was experiencing.
For people willing to roll the dice and be patient until finding the right product, sampling is a reasonable way to search for a better doctor blade. However, to shorten the process of finding the best blade for your application, taking the time to conduct a doctor blade trial is the way to go. For a small commitment of time and resources up front, the payoff is substantial in terms of saving time and money in the long run.
