Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printer and associated 3D printing method includes (i) a dispensing system comprising removable cartridges adapted to dispense different materials, each cartridge including status pins that transfer an identity of each cartridge, properties of the build material dispenser, and/or properties of a build material disposed therein; (ii) a build surface disposed below the dispensing system; (iii) a multi-axis positioning system to position the dispensing system relative to the build surface; and (iv) status pin connections. The status pin connections are mated with some portion of the discrete status pins. A structural material is dispensed from one cartridge onto the build surface to define at least a portion of the object. A functional ink is dispensed from the other cartridge onto a region of the object.