An alignment mechanism for a printhead includes a support frame into which there is formed a printhead module mounting plate. The mounting plate is coupled to a lever at one side of the lever's fulcrum point. A grub screw is captured by a portion of the mounting frame and rotatably received at a point on the lever at an opposite side of the fulcrum to the mounting plate coupling point. The fulcrum point is located closer to the mounting plate than to the grub screw. Rotation of the grub screw causes minute movement of the mounting plate. A number of hinged arms are also provided which interconnect the mounting plate and the frame and are arranged to facilitate linear movement of the mounting plate in response to adjustment of the grub screw.