TOKYO, JAPAN—  Epson is launching Contourjet, a brand dedicated to its 3D direct-to-object printing system. The Japanese manufacturer combines its PrecisionCore S800 inkjet printhead with an in-house developed six-axis industrial robot. The Contourjet principle involves moving the print head around complex-shaped parts to print directly onto curved, irregular, or grooved surfaces.The PrecisionCore S800 print head operates at a resolution of 600 x 600 DPI. An independent vertical movement mechanism complements the robot?s six axes to expand the range of possible printing orientations. Epson has equipped this system with its path control and image processing technologies. Contourjet supports multicolor printing, as well as white ink and clear varnish. This allows the system to create background layers and textural effects, among other things.