Plate, Blanket Cylinders Setting

How would I know if my plate and blanket cylinders have correct setting? I mean the clearance in between cylinders. I saw one technician who put a small amount of ink in the blanket cylinder to test the clearance but I don't know what to look for in this type of test. Is there any other way to do it?

There are special guages to measure the bearer setting of the cylinders. The "ink test" is used on the fly. However, t is not very accurate. I suggest you get one of those guages and tell your technician to use the guage so that he can balance the impressions properly.

Guages can be found in some printing supplies store. Just go the the Philippine Printing website and go through the suppliers.

Good luck!

Are you talking about the "guage filler"? It's a very thin metal strip inserted between bearer. We want to do it ourselves becaue we are in the province and asking the technician to visit us is just too expensive.

After hours of research I got this. I would like to share it to everybody.

http://graphics.tech.uh.edu/courses/3352/materials/Cylinder_Alignment.html

rempress wrote:

After hours of research I got this. I would like to share it to everybody.

http://graphics.tech.uh.edu/courses/3352/materials/Cylinder_Alignment.html

Thanks for the link, Rempress.
Magandang article ito.

Thanks for the link! Good read!

Another quick on the fly method is to use fuse wire or any soft wire. With the machine on impression inch the fuse wire between the bearers. Then measure the thickness with a micrometer. This will enable you to balance the pressure.

Thanks blanketman!

Just curous, will the fuse wire be soft enough so as not to damage the bearers, gears etc when you use this method? Fuse wires are kinda think.

Ibler,
If it worries you the fuse wire that is, then you can use solder. Either way it will not damage your bearers.

Thanks blanketman! will try this trick!