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The SimplyPrint Bed Check AI feature

The SimplyPrint Bed Check AI feature


The Bed Check AI feature uses your printer's camera to verify that the print bed is empty and properly seated before AutoPrint starts the next job. If the bed is not clear, AutoPrint is blocked from starting the next print so a failed ejection can't crash a fresh print into the previous one.


Bed Check AI is currently in beta. It's free during beta and is included as part of AutoPrint. It may become a separately paid add-on in the future.


Bed Check AI only runs for prints managed by AutoPrint. It does not run for manually started prints, and it does not run on printers that aren't using AutoPrint.


AI bed check showing a clear bed in the job timeline and starting the next AutoPrint job


How it works


After a print finishes, AutoPrint runs your clearing gcode (the macro that ejects the part or sweeps the bed). Once a configurable amount of time has passed - the clear bed timeout - SimplyPrint takes a snapshot from the printer's camera and sends it to a cloud AI model for analysis.


The AI returns one of four states:


State

Meaning

Clear

The bed looks empty and ready for the next print. AutoPrint continues.

Print detected

The previous print is still on the bed. AutoPrint is blocked.

Object detected

Something is on the bed that shouldn't be there, or the bed itself looks misplaced (e.g. removed, off-center, wrong orientation). AutoPrint is blocked.

Could not confirm

The AI couldn't make a confident judgment (e.g. obstructed view, poor lighting). AutoPrint waits and retries once.


If the bed isn't confirmed clear after the retry, AutoPrint will not start the next print until you intervene.


Enabling Bed Check AI


Bed Check AI is configured per printer (or per model / company-wide) inside your AutoPrint settings.


  1. Open the AutoPrint widget on the printer's control panel.
  2. Open AutoPrint settings.
  3. Under Safety & verification, toggle AI bed check on.
  4. Set a Clear bed timeout in seconds (see below).
  5. Save.


AutoPrint settings - Safety & verification section with AI bed check toggle and clear bed timeout


You can also enable Bed Check AI at the company or model level so all printers using AutoPrint share the same configuration.


The clear bed timeout


This is the most important setting to get right.


The clear bed timeout is how long SimplyPrint waits after the clearing gcode has been sent before snapping the verification image. It must be longer than the time it physically takes your printer to finish removing the print and return the bed to a clear, neutral position.


If the timeout is too short, the camera snapshot will catch the printer mid-clear - the part may still be on the bed, or the bed may still be moving - and the AI will (correctly) report that the bed isn't clear, blocking AutoPrint.


If you're seeing repeated "print detected" or "object detected" results even though the bed is actually clear by the time you look at it, the clear bed timeout is almost always the cause. Increase it.


A good rule of thumb: time how long your clearing gcode takes from the moment the print ends until the bed is fully clear and stationary, then add 10-20 seconds of headroom.


Best results


Bed Check AI works best when the camera has a clean, consistent view of the bed.


  • Core-XY printers tend to give the best results because the bed stays in roughly the same position across prints. Bedslingers (where the bed moves on Y) can still work, but the bed position varies more between snapshots.
  • Avoid bright or busy backgrounds behind the printer. Brightly colored objects in the camera frame can confuse the model into reporting things on the bed.
  • Stable lighting helps a lot. Heavy shadows or glare across the bed make detections less reliable.
  • Camera angle should show the full build plate. If part of the bed is out of frame, the AI can only judge what it can see.


When AutoPrint is blocked


If Bed Check AI blocks the next print, you'll see an AI bed check card on the printer's control panel showing the snapshot and the AI's note.


Blocked AI bed check card showing a print still on the bed with Mark as removed and Disable AI bed check actions


You have two options:


  • Mark as removed - Tell SimplyPrint the bed is actually clear (the AI got it wrong, or you cleared it manually). AutoPrint will resume.
  • Disable AI bed check - Quick shortcut to the AutoPrint settings where you can turn the feature off for this printer.


You can also give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down on each detection. This feedback helps us improve the model.


Current limitations


Bed Check AI is in beta. A few things aren't configurable yet:


  • You can't set a custom detection area - the AI looks at the whole camera frame.
  • You can't define a "reference" or default empty-bed image for the AI to compare against.
  • It only runs for AutoPrint, not for manually started prints.


We may add some of these in future updates.


Troubleshooting


The AI keeps saying the bed isn't clear, but it is.

Increase the Clear bed timeout. The snapshot is most likely being taken before the printer has finished clearing the bed.


The AI keeps saying "Could not confirm".

Check that the camera has a clean view of the bed. Common causes: the print head or gantry is parked over the bed in the snapshot, the lighting is too dark, or something is obstructing the camera. You can also use the thumbs feedback to help us catch patterns.


Bed Check AI isn't running on my printer.

Make sure:


  • The printer is set up with AutoPrint and AutoPrint is enabled.
  • The printer has a working camera connected to SimplyPrint.
  • AI bed check is toggled on in AutoPrint settings.
  • The clearing gcode macro is set up correctly so AutoPrint knows when clearing has started.


My printer doesn't have a camera.

Bed Check AI requires a camera. Without one, the feature won't activate.




Updated on: 05/05/2026

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