A blade engagement system for cleaning and/or metering a release agent onto an image forming machine moving surface, such as a photoreceptor. The blade engagement system includes a blade cassette having a plurality of blades, each including a compliant blade member having a blade tip. The blade engagement system also including a blade engagement apparatus removably receiving the blade cassette. The blade engagement apparatus having a blade positioning mechanism moving the blades, one at a time, from the blade cassette to a working position wherein the blade tip engages the moving surface for cleaning and/or metering. Used blades can be moved back into the cassette for storage. The blade cassette can be replaced with a new one after all of the blades have been used.