How to Program Custom Multi-Action Rotation Sequences on ComXim Programmable Turntables

A Complete Practical Guide with a 3-Step Compound Cycle Example

Preface

Many e‑commerce shooting studios, exhibition operators, and automated laboratory scenarios no longer need simple unidirectional rotation or basic left‑right oscillation. Instead, they require continuous rotation, intermittent stepping, and reciprocating pendulum motions combined in an automatic cycle.

Ordinary infrared remote controls and simplistic mobile apps only support a single rotation mode and cannot automatically transition between multiple action types. Based on ComXim’s native CT command system, this article shares two proven solutions: a zero‑code Windows software loop for regular users, and a developer‑friendly programmable automation approach. Together they perfectly achieve the following desired action sequence:

Clockwise 90° → Counter‑clockwise intermittent 270° (with a 4‑second pause) → Clockwise 170° pendulum reciprocation for one round, repeated infinitely.

1. Basic Terminology & Action Breakdown

1.1 Unified Parameter Definitions (CT command standard)

Rotation direction: 0 = clockwise (left turn), 1 = counter‑clockwise (right turn)
Rotation mode code: 0 = single continuous fixed‑angle, 1 = intermittent stepping, 2 = pendulum oscillation
Device feedback flag: CR+EVENT=TB_END; – indicates that the current complete action has finished, automatically triggering the next command in the sequence
Two core control commands:
- CT+TURNSINGLE(direction, angle); – single continuous rotation, stops immediately after reaching the set angle
- CT+START(direction, mode, shutter, angle, pause_seconds, repeat_count); – compound mode start command

1.2 Breakdown of One Complete Cycle (three sequential actions)

Step	Action Description	Corresponding CT Command	Execution Logic
1st	Clockwise 90° continuous rotation	`CT+TURNSINGLE(0,90);`	Rotates clockwise 90° in one go, stops at position, no pause
2nd	Counter‑clockwise intermittent 270° with a 4‑second pause, executed once	`CT+START(1,1,0,270,4,1);`	Turns counter‑clockwise 270° → dwells 4 seconds – this segment runs only once
3rd	Pendulum oscillation of 170° (centred on current position), one round	`CT+START(0,2,0,170,4,1);`	Swings left and right over a maximum 170° range, pauses 4 seconds at each end, stops after one full back‑and‑forth cycle

After all three steps are completed, the turntable sends back the end‑of‑action feedback, and the software/program automatically restarts the loop from the beginning.

2. Solution 1: Windows TurntableX Software – Zero‑Code Looping

Ideal for: E‑commerce image editors, exhibition operators, and photography studios – no programming required. Visual operation with USB or Wi‑Fi connectivity for all ComXim turntable series.

Pre‑requisites

Hardware connection: Connect via USB cable, or connect to the turntable’s built‑in Wi‑Fi hotspot (password: 88889999).
Driver installation: Download and install the CH340 driver; verify that the COM port appears in Device Manager.
Software preparation: Unzip TurntableX, select the correct COM port or IP address, click Connect, and confirm device reading.
Speed adjustment (optional): Send CT+CHANGESPEED(0) to slow down or CT+CHANGESPEED(1) to speed up.

Step‑by‑Step Operation

In the command input box, paste the three complete CT commands, each on a new line: CT+TURNSINGLE(0,90); CT+START(1,1,0,270,4,1); CT+START(0,2,0,170,4,1);
Check the two options below the input box: Auto Send and Loop.
Click the Send button to start the full loop.
Running logic: The software continuously monitors the turntable’s feedback CR+EVENT=TB_END;. When one action finishes, it automatically sends the next command. After all three steps are done, the queue resets and the loop repeats indefinitely.

Alternative: Web Console

For Mac users or when no Windows client is available, use the official online web console (no installation required):

Open https://comxim.com/web-device-console
Select the corresponding COM port and connect.
Paste the three CT commands, enable loop sending, and click Send.

Extended Feature: Shutter Control (Models with S/PS)

If your turntable includes camera/phone shutter support, change the shutter parameter (third digit) from 0 to 1 to trigger auto‑focus and shutter release during pause phases:

CT+TURNSINGLE(0,90);
CT+START(1,1,1,270,4,1);
CT+START(0,2,1,170,4,1);

3. Solution 2: CT Command Secondary Development – Programmable Automation

Ideal for: Laboratory equipment, industrial vision systems, and custom host software. Works over USB, Wi‑Fi, or Bluetooth. Compatible with Python, C#, JavaScript, Java, and any other programming language.

Core Communication Principle

The host application continuously reads serial/TCP data streams. When it detects the CR+EVENT=TB_END; flag, it sends the next command in the queue. After the entire queue is executed, the index resets to achieve permanent looping.

Simple Python Pseudocode Example

# Define the three‑action command queue
action_list = [
    "CT+TURNSINGLE(0,90);",
    "CT+START(1,1,0,270,4,1);",
    "CT+START(0,2,0,170,4,1);"
]
current_index = 0

# Continuously listen to serial/Wi‑Fi data
while True:
    rec_data = read_turntable_data()   # read feedback from turntable
    # Check if the current action has completed
    if "CR+EVENT=TB_END;" in rec_data:
        send_command(action_list[current_index])   # send the next command
        # Advance to the next command, reset when reaching the end
        current_index += 1
        if current_index >= len(action_list):
            current_index = 0

Customisable Parameters

Adjust dwell time: Change the 5th parameter, e.g. CT+START(1,1,0,270,6,1); for a 6‑second pause.
Single‑action repeat count: Modify the last digit (e.g., 2 to repeat the step twice).
Global speed: Send CT+CHANGESPEED(0/1) before the loop.
Home reset: Add CT+SETZERO(); and CT+TOZERO(); to ensure consistent starting positions.

4. Limitations of Other Control Methods

Infrared remote control: Only supports a single mode (pure continuous / pure intermittent / pure pendulum). Cannot automatically switch between three action types – not suitable for unattended automatic cycling.
Android demo apps (TurntablePlus/TurntableBLE): No batch‑command queue; only manual one‑by‑one sending. Useable for demos but not recommended for long‑term automation.
Mac systems: No official TurntableX client. Use the web console or secondary‑development approach.

5. Practical Optimisation Tips

Stuttering or mode conflict: If issues occur, send CT+SETSTOP(); to clear the current action, then restart the loop.
High‑precision positioning (3D scanning / cultural heritage): Send CT+SETZERO(); before the loop. For models with Y‑axis zero markers, this ensures every cycle starts from the exact same angle.
Valuable exhibit protection (T‑type weighing): Models with load‑weighing can report weight data. In custom code, add a weight‑anomaly check to stop the loop and trigger an alert if weight changes unexpectedly.
Interrupting and restarting: Click the Stop button in the software or press the stop key on the remote to terminate all actions immediately. Click Send again to restart from the beginning.

6. Applicable Industries & Scenarios

E‑commerce multi‑angle product demonstration and automated shooting
Dynamic display of jewellery and luxury items in live‑streaming studios
Museum artefact multi‑view digitisation
Industrial component visual inspection on automated production lines
University laboratory optical and material rotation testing
Unattended product displays in shopping malls and exhibitions

MTxRUL USB Programmable Motorized Turntable For Photography & 3D Scanning

Full MTxRUL size lineup from 200mm to 600mm, matched load options for light & heavy objects
Dual control: infrared remote + CH340 USB serial for manual operation & custom development
5 professional programmable rotation modes for all commercial & industrial workflows
Separated step & continuous load rating to protect motor for long-term service
Complete CT command SDK & Windows software provided for free secondary integration

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