Ink rollers do the real work of moving ink from the fountain to the plate on a Man Roland 700. Over time the rubber surface glazes, hardens, and loses its crown, and ink transfer suffers long before a roller actually fails. Replacing an ink roller is one of the most common \u2014 and most underrated \u2014 maintenance jobs a press operator can do in-house. This guide walks through the full procedure for the Roland 700 inking unit, from recognizing a worn roller to setting a fresh one back into the train.<\/p>\n
Before you start, it helps to know which rollers you are dealing with. A Roland 700 inking unit carries several rubber rollers: the ink fountain (ductor) roller, distributor rollers, rider rollers, and the form rollers that contact the plate. Form rollers are usually the first to show wear because they run directly against the plate and the ink form. This guide focuses on the form and distributor rollers, which account for most replacements.<\/p>\n
If you see two or more of these, the roller is a candidate for replacement rather than more aggressive washing. Rollers that are only dirty can usually be recovered with a proper roller wash and conditioning. Rollers that are glazed or hardened need to go. When in doubt, check the roller with a durometer and look for crown and concentricity before writing it off.<\/p>\n
You will need the following:<\/p>\n
Start with a full wash-up of the unit so you are not fighting ink and solvent. Drop the fountains, remove as much ink as possible, and wipe the journals clean. Note the existing roller setting before you disturb anything \u2014 record the strip thickness and pressure feel so you can match them on the new roller.<\/p>\n
Many shops send worn rollers out for recovery \u2014 regrinding and re-covering the rubber \u2014 rather than buying a new core every time, and a good core can be recovered several times. If the core is damaged, a full replacement ink roller<\/a> is the way to go.<\/p>\n New rubber must be set against the plate and distributor carefully. Set the form roller to the plate first, then to the distributor, using the setting strip. The goal is a light, even stripe of contact along the full length \u2014 too much pressure glazes the new roller fast and stresses the journals, while too little leaves a starved ink film.<\/p>\n Once the roller is set, run the unit by hand and watch the ink film. Then run a short job and check the sheet. Expect a short break-in period: new rubber may transfer slightly differently for the first few thousand sheets until the surface settles. Keep wash-up thorough but avoid aggressive solvents on a fresh roller.<\/p>\n Finally, add the roller to your maintenance log with the install date. Rollers that are tracked this way get replaced on schedule rather than after a complaint shows up on press. If your shop runs mixed brands \u2014 a Roland 700 next to a Heidelberg or Komori \u2014 keeping a small stock of common wear items saves downtime. See our OEM-compatible replacement parts<\/a> range for what we carry.<\/p>\nInstalling the New Roller<\/h2>\n
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Setting and Final Checks<\/h2>\n