# Ender 3 Random Printer Pauses **URL:** \ **Category:** 3d Printing / Slicers / Setup / Problems\ **Created:** [January 27, 2021, 10:02pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950 "2021-01-27T22:02:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zero1Niner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zero1Niner](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Zero1Niner)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 10:02pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/1 "2021-01-27T22:02:39Z")
Hi everyone!, Im pretty new to 3D printing. Got my first Ender 3 Pro about a month ago and completely consumed by this now. I started printing a few longer print time jobs, and have been getting some odd pauses very far into the print. Im using the Ender 3 Pro via Octoprint. Today, 17.5 hours into a 30 hour ish print, the machine just paused. The terminal in Octoprint shows a message that says ‘Changing monitoring state from “Printing” to “Pausing”’ each time this happens. The last few long prints, its happening each time. Here is a few lines in the log when the machine stops. Any idea what I should be looking at to trouble shoot this? ```auto Send: N436814 G1 X201.773 Y35.408 E0.02909*102 Recv: ok Send: N436815 G1 X201.853 Y35.943 E0.01831*97 Recv: TT::205.62205.62 //205.00205.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::6161 BB@@::2222 Recv: Recv: ok Send: N436816 G1 X201.901 Y36.807 E0.02927*99 Recv: ok Send: N436817 G1 X201.873 Y37.307 E0.01696*106 Recv: ok Send: N436818 G1 X218.025 Y53.459 E0.77318*106 Recv: ok Send: N436819 G1 X218.025 Y52.286 E0.03970*105 Recv: ok Send: N436820 G1 X197.909 Y72.402 E0.96294*101 Recv: ok Send: N436821 G1 X197.909 Y73.642 E0.04197*104 Recv: TT::205.62205.62 //205.00205.00 BB::60.0160.01 //60.0060.00 @@::6161 BB@@::1818 Recv: Recv: ok Send: N436822 G1 X218.025 Y93.758 E0.96294*103 Recv: ok Send: N436823 G1 X218.025 Y92.585 E0.03970*104 Recv: ok Send: N436824 G1 X197.909 Y112.701 E0.96294*86 Recv: ok Send: N436825 G1 X197.909 Y113.941 E0.04197*87 Recv: ok Send: N436826 G1 X218.025 Y134.057 E0.96294*87 Recv: ok Send: N436827 G1 X218.025 Y132.884 E0.03970*91 Changing monitoring state from "Printing" to "Pausing" Recv: ok Send: N436828 M400*20 Recv: TT::205.62205.62 //205.00205.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::6060 BB@@::2222 Recv: Recv: echo:busy: processing Recv: TT::205.04205.04 //205.00205.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::7474 BB@@::2222 Recv: Recv: ok Send: N436829 M114*21 Recv: X:218.02 Y:132.88 Z:31.60 E:562.23 Count X:17442 Y:10631 Z:12640 Recv: ok Send: N436830 G91*43 Recv: ok Send: N436831 M83*35 Recv: ok Send: N436832 G1 E-6.5*117 Recv: ok Send: N436833 G1 Z2.5*66 Recv: ok Send: N436834 G90*46 Recv: ok Send: N436835 M83*39 Recv: ok Send: N436836 M104 S0*89 Recv: ok Changing monitoring state from "Pausing" to "Paused" Recv: TT::205.00205.00 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2222 Recv: Recv: TT::204.48204.48 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2222 Recv: Recv: TT::203.89203.89 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2222 Recv: Recv: TT::202.85202.85 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2222 Recv: Recv: TT::201.53201.53 //0.000.00 BB::59.9959.99 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2626 Recv: Recv: TT::199.63199.63 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2222 Recv: Recv: TT::197.73197.73 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2222 Recv: Recv: TT::195.91195.91 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2222 Recv: Recv: TT::193.64193.64 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2121 Recv: Recv: TT::191.19191.19 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2222 Recv: Recv: TT::188.62188.62 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2222 Recv: Recv: TT::186.09186.09 //0.000.00 BB::59.9959.99 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2626 Recv: Recv: TT::183.37183.37 //0.000.00 BB::59.9759.97 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::3131 Recv: Recv: TT::180.77180.77 //0.000.00 BB::59.9759.97 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::3333 Recv: Recv: TT::178.02178.02 //0.000.00 BB::59.9959.99 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2929 Recv: Recv: TT::175.67175.67 //0.000.00 BB::59.9959.99 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::3030 Recv: Recv: TT::172.99172.99 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2727 Recv: Recv: TT::170.47170.47 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2727 Recv: Recv: TT::168.12168.12 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2828 Recv: Recv: TT::165.57165.57 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2828 Recv: Recv: TT::163.27163.27 //0.000.00 BB::60.0260.02 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2020 Recv: Recv: TT::160.77160.77 //0.000.00 BB::60.0260.02 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::1919 Recv: Recv: TT::158.48158.48 //0.000.00 BB::60.0160.01 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2222 Recv: Recv: TT::156.06156.06 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2525 Recv: Recv: TT::153.91153.91 //0.000.00 BB::60.0260.02 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::1717 Recv: Recv: TT::151.60151.60 //0.000.00 BB::59.9959.99 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2828 Recv: Recv: TT::149.52149.52 //0.000.00 BB::60.0160.01 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2020 Recv: Recv: TT::147.34147.34 //0.000.00 BB::60.0160.01 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2020 Recv: Recv: TT::145.25145.25 //0.000.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::00 BB@@::2323 Recv: Changing monitoring state from "Paused" to "Resuming" Send: N436837 M109 S205*82 Recv: T:143.52 /205.00 B:60.01 /60.00 @:0 B@:19 W:? Recv: TT::143.19143.19 //205.00205.00 BB::60.0060.00 //60.0060.00 @@::127127 BB@@::2323 ``` ---
**Author:** ![MambaRoja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@MambaRoja](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/MambaRoja)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/2 "2021-01-27T22:09:16Z")
Maybe the Octopi card is corrupted, try a different card? Print from a SD card instead of Octoprint? ---
**Author:** ![Alan](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.makewithtech.com/alan/32/26_2.png) [@Alan](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Alan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 10:30pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/3 "2021-01-27T22:30:34Z")
In addition to the SD card, make sure you have a 3A power supply for the Pi and a good (shielded) USB cable from the Pi to the printer. Cheers ---
**Author:** ![Ender5r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ender5r](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Ender5r)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 11:38pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/4 "2021-01-27T23:38:33Z")
I agree, definitely try printing directly from an SD card. The 1st rule of troubleshooting is “divide the problem in half”. Your using a printer & OctoPi/OctoPrint. Obviously, you can’t eliminate the printer, so that leaves the OctoPi/OctoPrint. ---
**Author:** ![Zero1Niner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zero1Niner](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Zero1Niner)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 5:20am UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/5 "2021-01-28T05:20:38Z")
All great suggestions. I will print the next large file from the SD. Then I will change the cable for the Octoprint, and if that doesnt resolve it, I will re-flash the raspberry pi on a new SD, and start over on that. ---
**Author:** ![Zero1Niner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zero1Niner](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Zero1Niner)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 5:22am UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/6 "2021-01-28T05:22:44Z")
One thing that I found most curious is that somehow it seems to be receiving a pause command. I have been able to resume each time this has happened, and fortunately the print was salvageable, but the fact that it keeps happening is the concern. ---
**Author:** ![Alan](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.makewithtech.com/alan/32/26_2.png) [@Alan](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Alan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/7 "2021-01-28T14:08:48Z")
> [@Zero1Niner](#): > > One thing that I found most curious is that somehow it seems to be receiving a pause command. I have been able to resume each time this has happened, and fortunately the print was salvageable, but the fact that it keeps happening is the concern. I see M400 in the commands above. I don’t know about the Enders, but one of my machines doesn’t like it. Are you using (or have used) Cura’s G-code Post Processing extension? Cheers ---
**Author:** ![Zero1Niner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zero1Niner](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Zero1Niner)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 3:47pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/8 "2021-01-28T15:47:49Z")
I have had the pauses occur with both Cura and Prusa Slicer. I will check out the Post Processing extension. What is the M400 command telling the machine to do? ---
**Author:** ![Ender5r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ender5r](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Ender5r)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 3:51pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/9 "2021-01-28T15:51:06Z")
> [Description This command causes G-code processing to pause and wait in a loop until all moves in the planner are completed. Usage M400Example Wait for moves to finish before playing a beep M400 M300 S440 P100 And, yes, why on Earth is there an M400 in the code at all? BTW, when you have a Marlin question just go to [U][https://marlinfw.org/meta/gcode/[/U]](https://marlinfw.org/meta/gcode/%5B/U%5D). It’s the Marlin bible. ---
**Author:** ![roon4660](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.makewithtech.com/roon4660/32/35_2.png) [@roon4660](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/roon4660)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 4:23pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/10 "2021-01-28T16:23:07Z")
That link for Marlin is dead. Do you have another, please.? ---
**Author:** ![Zero1Niner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zero1Niner](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Zero1Niner)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/11 "2021-01-28T16:37:45Z")
Its weird. the root link is bad, but googled the error, and the M400 link is working. Couldnt find the correct root link for this. > **[Finish Moves](https://marlinfw.org/docs/gcode/M400.html)** > > This command causes G-code processing to pause and wait in a loop until all moves in the planner are completed. ---
**Author:** ![Zero1Niner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zero1Niner](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Zero1Niner)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/12 "2021-01-28T16:39:38Z")
Found the link > **[Gcode](https://marlinfw.org/meta/gcode/)** > > Printing the planet, one layer at a time. ---
**Author:** ![roon4660](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.makewithtech.com/roon4660/32/35_2.png) [@roon4660](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/roon4660)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 4:43pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/13 "2021-01-28T16:43:16Z")
It works now, Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Zero1Niner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zero1Niner](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Zero1Niner)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 8:28pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/14 "2021-01-28T20:28:31Z")
Huh. So the pause just happened printing directly from the SD card. Wasnt expecting that. Any suggestions on what I should be troubleshooting on the printer? ---
**Author:** ![Ender5r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ender5r](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Ender5r)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 8:47pm UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/15 "2021-01-28T20:47:45Z")
That tells us it’s most likely not the printer. In the g-code file, did you comment out all lines with M400 in them? ---
**Author:** ![Zero1Niner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zero1Niner](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Zero1Niner)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 4:29am UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/16 "2021-01-29T04:29:10Z")
Ok. Taking another crack at this. As Ender5r said, elimination is important to identify the problem, and I realized later that although I was printing directly from the SD card earlier, I had NOT disconnected the mini USB cable connecting the Ender 3 and the Pi. So I disconnected the pi completely, printed the same part again, and the part finished with no pauses. However, the problem is a little intermittent. So tonight I started a new print that is another long one (20+ hours), and I’m printing this directly from the SD, and no pi connected. We will see how this goes. Thanks for all of the troubleshooting suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Ender5r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ender5r](https://forum.makewithtech.com/u/Ender5r)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 5:03am UTC](https://forum.makewithtech.com/t/ender-3-random-printer-pauses/2950/17 "2021-01-29T05:03:46Z")
Good luck with it (and don’t feel bad about missing the USB cable; that’s a minor oversight & it’s impressive you spotted it so quickly).