Abstract: A method is disclosed for bonding a nozzle plate to the front nozzle face of a printhead. A bonding station includes a heated printhead holder in opposed relationship to a nozzle plate holder with a curved lower surface. A nozzle plate having a row of nozzle holes and alignment apertures are formed by laser ablation in a thin polymer film. The film is moved into the bonding station, and the nozzle plate is aligned with pins on the curved nozzle plate holder surface. Both the printhead holder and nozzle plate holder are adjustable in directions perpendicular to the nozzle array on the printhead face and also rotationally. The adjustment insures that the nozzle plate, with adhesive applied to the bottom surface, makes initial tangential contact at the center of the nozzle array, resulting in accurate alignment of the nozzle plate holes with the nozzle array in the printhead face.