An anilox roll meters ink by volume held in engraved cells. As those cells plug with dried ink, the volume delivered falls, and the press compensates by running more ink pressure or a heavier setting — which does not restore the colour, because the problem is metering rather than supply. Cell volume is measurable, so this is a condition you can trend rather than guess at.
The steps ChatterFix schedules for this PM. Every step is a checkable item on the work order — a technician can speak their way through it without touching a keyboard.
An anilox roll meters ink by volume held in engraved cells. As those cells plug with dried ink, the volume delivered falls, and the press compensates by running more ink pressure or a heavier setting — which does not restore the colour, because the problem is metering rather than supply. Cell volume is measurable, so this is a condition you can trend rather than guess at.
Colour density drifts down across weeks. Operators chase it with ink adjustments, makeready gets longer, waste climbs on every job, and the press acquires a reputation for being 'hard to match'. Cells that stay plugged long enough are cleaned only by aggressive methods that shorten the roll's life, turning a cleaning task into a re-engraving bill.
Monthly deep clean for a press in daily production, with the impression count as the real driver. Trend measured cell volume: when a clean stops restoring it, the roll is worn rather than dirty, and that is a different decision.
This procedure — and every other PM for your industry — is already built into ChatterFix. Pick your industry and it lands on the right equipment, on the right interval, in about three minutes.