3D printer status and health monitoring with illuminated status display indicator

A 3D printer comprising:

• a chamber configured to receive extruded material to print a part;
• a substantially enclosed tool chamber above the chamber, the substantially enclosed tool chamber comprising a viewing window and a tool rack therein;
• a plurality of print heads, each of the plurality of the print heads residing in a docked position on the tool rack and when not in use and configured to receive a thermoplastic-based filament, melt the filament, and deposit the melted filament to form the part, each of the plurality of print heads comprising an illuminated status indicator configured to emit a plurality of signals indicative of a status or error of the print head of the plurality of print heads or a status of the 3D printer, wherein the illuminated status indicator faces the viewing window;
• a plurality of sensors located on the print head of the plurality of print heads or in the 3D printer and configured to detect a status of the print head of the plurality of print heads or other printer components or an error in the print head of the plurality of print heads or other printer components;
• and
• a controller configured to receive an output from at least one of the plurality of sensors and transmit a control signal to at least one print head of the plurality of print heads that causes the illuminated status indicator to emit a colored signal indicative of the detected status or error;
• wherein the signal of the plurality of signals emitted by the illuminated status indicator communicates the detected status or a detected error through color, pulsing frequency, or both.