In pad printing, incomplete scraping is usually caused by ink condition, blade wear or installation, and scraping pressure. We recommend troubleshooting in the order of ink, blade, and pressure.
Ink and steel plate:
If the ink is too thick or begins to clump, it will not scrape clean. Adjust viscosity with the appropriate thinner. Scratches or dried ink residue on the steel plate surface can also leave streaks and should be polished clean.
Blade:
A dull or chipped blade edge must be replaced. If the blade is tilted, the clamping bar is uneven, or the blade does not sit tightly against the steel plate, residual ink will remain; realign the blade. For high-precision replacement, we can supply custom pad printing doctor blades made to the dimensions of the original blade.
Pressure:
If the ink and blade are in good condition and only a thin overall film remains, increase the scraping pressure gradually until the steel plate is clean.
