Quick Start Guide to Automated Photography with ComXim Programmable Turntables

Introduction

If you have ever manually rotated a product on a turntable while repeatedly pressing a camera shutter, you already understand the pain. Missed angles, inconsistent lighting, and wasted time are just the beginning. The ComXim programmable turntable series solves this problem through built-in shutter synchronization—allowing the turntable to automatically trigger your camera or smartphone at precise rotational intervals.

This guide covers everything you need to know about setting up shutter-triggered automated photography: connecting your camera or phone, controlling the turntable via remote, PC software, mobile apps, and even CT commands for advanced users. Whether you are an e-commerce seller, a 3D scanning professional, or a developer building an automated imaging pipeline, this tutorial walks you through each step.

Important: Shutter synchronization requires a turntable model with shutter support. Look for the S (camera shutter) or PS (phone + camera shutter) designation in the model name—for example, MT400RUWPSL100ProV6.

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Part 1: Connecting Your Camera or Smartphone

Before the turntable can trigger your camera, you must establish a physical or wireless connection between the turntable and your imaging device.

1.1 Smartphone Connection (Bluetooth Wireless Shutter)

ComXim turntables with PS in the model name support Bluetooth wireless shutter for smartphones.

For Android:

1. Power on the turntable and wait approximately 5 seconds for initialization.
2. Open your phone’s Bluetooth settings and search for available devices.
3. Look for the device named ComXimShutter and tap to pair.
4. Once paired and connected, open your camera app—the turntable can now trigger the shutter.

Note: If you have previously connected to another ComXim shutter-enabled turntable, you must cancel the existing Bluetooth pairing relationship before pairing with the new device.

For iOS (iPhone):

The process is nearly identical:

1. Power on the turntable and wait for initialization.
2. Go to Settings → Bluetooth and search for ComXimShutter.
3. Tap to pair. Once the status shows “Connected,” open the camera app.

1.2 DSLR/Mirrorless Camera Connection (Shutter Cable)

For professional cameras, ComXim turntables with S or PS designation provide a physical shutter output interface—a 3.5mm jack (PJ392-3S/PJ392-4S female socket).

Connection Steps:

1. Power on the turntable and wait for initialization.
2. Connect one end of a compatible shutter release cable to the turntable’s 3.5mm jack.
3. Connect the other end to your camera’s remote shutter port.
4. Turn on the camera and set it to the desired shooting mode.

Shutter Cable Compatibility by Camera Brand:

Brand	Cable Model	Compatible Camera Series
Canon	RS-80N3 / TC-80N3	EOS R1, R3, R5, 1D X series, 5D series, 6D, 7D
Canon	RS-60E3	EOS R6, R7, R8, R10, 90D, 80D, 70D, RP, M series
Nikon	MC-30 / MC-36	D500, D5, D810, D850, Z8, Z9, F series
Nikon	MC-DC2	D750, D780, D7200, Z5, Z6, Z7
Sony	RM-SPR1	ILCE series (α6000, α6500, α7), RX100 series
Sony	RM-S1AM	A33, A35, A37, A55, A57, A65, A77, A100
Panasonic	DMW-RS1 / RSL1	Lumix S5, S1, GH series, G series, FZ series
Fujifilm	RR-90	X-Pro2, X-T1–X-T5, X100 series, GFX series
Fujifilm	RR-100	X-T5, X-H2, GFX 50S II, X100VI
Olympus	RM-UC1	OM-D E-M series, E-PL series, PEN F
Olympus	RM-CB2	OM-1, OM-5, E-M1 Mark III/II, E-M5 Mark III
Pentax	CS-205	K-1, K-3, K-5, K-7, K-10D, 645 series
Leica	CR-D1	V-LUX series, DIGILUX series

Tip: If your camera is not listed, search for “shutter release cable [your camera model]” — most major brands use standardized connectors.

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Part 2: Controlling Automated Photography

Once your camera or smartphone is connected, you can trigger automated photography through multiple control methods.

2.1 Using the Infrared Remote Control

The remote control offers the simplest way to start automated shooting.

Manual Shutter Trigger:

Press any of these remote buttons to manually trigger the shutter:

• [Output Auto Focus] — triggers auto-focus only
• [Output Shutter] — triggers shutter release
• [Output Auto Focus + Shutter] — triggers both simultaneously

Note: These manual shutter functions are only available on turntable models with shutter hardware support.

Automated Shutter Triggering (One-Click Full-Circle Equal Step Mode):

This is the most powerful feature for 360° product photography. Press any numeric preset button on the remote (e.g., 8, 12, 24, 36, or 48) to:

1. Automatically divide 360° into equal segments (e.g., pressing 8 means 360°/8 = 45° per step).
2. Rotate to each angle.
3. Pause for 4 seconds at each position.
4. Trigger the shutter automatically at the midpoint of the pause (approximately 2 seconds into the 4-second pause).
5. Repeat until the full circle is completed.

For example, pressing [8] on the remote tells the turntable: rotate 45°, pause 4 seconds (triggering the shutter at the midpoint), rotate another 45°, pause again, and repeat this cycle 8 times until returning to the starting position.

For non-shutter models: The turntable still rotates and pauses, but no shutter signal is sent—you can use the pause time for manual triggering or other tasks.

2.2 Using TurntableX (Windows PC Software)

TurntableX is ComXim’s dedicated Windows control software, supporting both USB and WiFi connections.

Connection (USB):

1. Install the CH340 USB driver (download from comxim.com/download-usb-driver).
2. Connect the turntable via USB cable and power it on.
3. Launch TurntableX, select the correct COM port from the dropdown menu, and click Connect.
4. Verify connection by clicking the “Device Name” button—if it returns the product name, you are connected.

Connection (WiFi):

1. Power on the turntable and wait for its WiFi hotspot to appear (SSID matches the turntable model name, e.g., “MT400RUWPSL100ProV6”).
2. Connect your computer to this hotspot using the default password: 88889999.
3. Launch TurntableX, select IPv4 (default IP: 192.168.181.181, port: 8181), and click Connect.

Note: The turntable’s WiFi is for point-to-point control only and does not provide internet access. Your operating system may show a “no internet” warning—ignore it and keep the connection.

Automated Photography Methods:

Method 1 — Step Shortcut Buttons:

Click any preset numeric button (8, 12, 24, 36, 48) in the software. The turntable automatically:

• Divides 360° into equal segments
• Rotates, pauses, and triggers the shutter at the pause midpoint
• Repeats until the full circle is complete

Method 2 — Enable Auto Shutter:

1. In the mode settings section, check the Auto Shutter checkbox.
2. Set your desired rotation angle (positive number), pause time (positive integer in seconds), and repeat count (positive integer).
3. In any step or pendulum mode, the turntable will automatically trigger the shutter during each pause.

Important: Rotation angle, pause time, and repeat count must all be positive values. Otherwise, the turntable will not function correctly and shutter triggering will fail.

Method 3 — CT Command:

For precise control, you can send raw CT commands (see Part 3 for details).

2.3 Using the Web Console

The web-based control console works in any browser without installation—perfect for quick setups or computers where you cannot install software.

Access: comxim.com/web-device-console

Setup:

1. Connect the turntable to your computer via USB.
2. Open the web console in your browser.
3. Click Connect Serial Port and select the correct COM port.
4. Wait for the ## characters to appear in the console window—this confirms successful connection.

Automated Photography:

• Use the Step Shortcut buttons (8, 12, 24, 36, 48) for one-click full-circle shooting with automatic shutter triggering.
• Or enter raw CT commands in the command input field for custom sequences.

2.4 Using Mobile Apps (TurntableBLE / TurntablePlus)

ComXim provides demo Android apps for Bluetooth and WiFi control.

TurntableBLE (Bluetooth BLE 4.0):

1. Download and install TurntableBLE APK from the ComXim website.
2. Power on the turntable and open the app.
3. Tap the Scan button in the upper-right corner.
4. Select your turntable model from the device list (e.g., “MT320RUBL40”).
5. Once connected, the control interface appears.

TurntablePlus (WiFi):

1. Download and install TurntablePlus APK.
2. Connect your phone to the turntable’s WiFi hotspot (password: 88889999).
3. Open the app and tap Connect Device.

Automated Photography:

• Check the Auto Shutter box in the settings panel.
• Set rotation angle, pause time, and repeat count to positive values.
• The turntable will automatically trigger the shutter during each pause in step or pendulum mode.

Note: These apps are provided as demos and may not support all Android devices. ComXim has open-sourced the app source code for developers who wish to build custom versions.

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Part 3: CT Command Programming (For Developers)

For users who want to integrate the turntable into custom workflows, ComXim provides a unified CT command set that works identically across USB, WiFi, and Bluetooth connections.

Command Format

All CT commands follow this pattern:

CT+COMMAND(parameter1, parameter2, ...);

• Starts with CT
• Followed by + and the command name
• Parameters inside ()
• Ends with ; (semicolon)

Core Commands for Automated Photography

CT+START(direction, turnMode, shutter, angle, seconds, times);

This is the most powerful command for automated photography. Parameters:

Parameter	Values	Description
direction	0 = clockwise, 1 = counter-clockwise	Rotation direction
turnMode	0 = continuous, 1 = step, 2 = pendulum	Rotation mode
shutter	0 = off, 1 = on	Auto shutter trigger
angle	Positive float (degrees)	Rotation angle per step
seconds	Positive integer	Pause time in seconds
times	Positive integer	Number of repeats

Example 1 — 360° Product Photography:

CT+START(0,1,1,15,2,24);

This command tells the turntable:

• Rotate clockwise (0)
• In step mode (1)
• With auto shutter enabled (1)
• Rotate 15° per step
• Pause 2 seconds at each position (triggering the shutter at the midpoint)
• Repeat 24 times (24 × 15° = 360°)

Example 2 — 8-Shot Circle:

CT+START(0,1,1,45,4,8);

• Rotates 45°, pauses 4 seconds (shutter at midpoint), repeats 8 times for a full 360° circle.

Example 3 — Counter-Clockwise with Longer Pause:

CT+START(1,1,1,20,10,18);

• Counter-clockwise, 20° per step, 10-second pause, 18 repeats.

Manual Shutter Commands

CT+CAMERACTRL(focusOnOff, captureOnOff);

Parameter	Values	Description
focusOnOff	0 = off, 1 = on	Auto-focus control
captureOnOff	0 = off, 1 = on	Shutter capture

Example: CT+CAMERACTRL(1,1); — triggers both auto-focus and shutter.

CT+PHONECAMCTRL(ShutterTime);

Controls smartphone Bluetooth shutter. ShutterTime is the signal pulse width in milliseconds (recommended: 250–500).

Feedback Mechanisms

When programming, the turntable provides three types of responses:

Response	Format	Description
ACK (Acknowledgment)	CR+OK;	Command received and accepted
EVENT	CR+EVENT=TB_END;	Action completed
ERROR	CR+ERR=XX;	Error code (see command list for details)

Heartbeat Protocol:

• Turntable sends # every 1 second when connected.
• If no # or command is received for 3 seconds, it sends ## to indicate heartbeat loss.
• Control software should implement heartbeat monitoring for reliable communication.

For complete CT command documentation, refer to the Official Command List.

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Part 4: Troubleshooting & Best Practices

Common Issues and Solutions

Shutter not triggering

Possible Cause	Solution
Model does not support shutter	Check for S or PS in the model name
Camera not properly connected	Verify shutter cable connection or Bluetooth pairing
Auto shutter not enabled	Check the Auto Shutter box in software/app
Angle/pause/repeat values invalid	All must be positive values (angle > 0, seconds > 0, times > 0)
Bluetooth shutter previously paired with another device	Unpair old device and re-pair with current turntable

Cannot connect via USB

Possible Cause	Solution
CH340 driver not installed	Download and install from comxim.com/download-usb-driver
Wrong COM port selected	Check Device Manager (Windows) to identify the correct port
USB cable faulty	Try a different USB Type-B cable
Port already in use	Close other applications using the same COM port

Cannot connect via WiFi

Possible Cause	Solution
Wrong password	Default password is 88889999
Model does not support WiFi	Check for W in the model name
OS disconnected the network	Some systems drop “no-internet” connections—select “Keep Connection”
Wrong IP/port	Default: 192.168.181.181, port 8181

Bluetooth device not found

Possible Cause	Solution
Model does not support Bluetooth	Check for B in the model name
App not compatible	TurntableBLE supports only some Android devices
Phone too far	Stay within 3 meters during scanning
Bluetooth permission not granted	Grant location and Bluetooth permissions to the app

Best Practices

1. Load Capacity: Always stay within 80% of the rated maximum load to ensure step accuracy and prolong motor life. If the object’s maximum dimension exceeds the turntable diameter, recalculate effective load using the torque conservation formula provided in the user manual.
2. Shutter Timing: The automatic shutter triggers at the midpoint of the pause—for a 4-second pause, the shutter fires at approximately the 2-second mark. This timing is fixed and cannot be adjusted via remote control.
3. Camera Settings: For best results with automated photography:

• Use a tripod or stable surface
• Set manual focus to avoid focus hunting between shots
• Use consistent lighting
• Set a fixed white balance

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Conclusion

The ComXim programmable turntable’s shutter synchronization capability transforms manual product photography into an automated, repeatable process. Whether you choose the simplicity of the infrared remote, the precision of the TurntableX software, the convenience of the web console, the mobility of mobile apps, or the flexibility of CT command programming, the core workflow remains consistent:

1. Connect your camera or smartphone
2. Set your rotation parameters (angle, pause, repeats)
3. Enable auto shutter
4. Start — the turntable handles the rest

E-commerce sellers benefit from consistent 360° product images in minutes instead of hours. 3D scanning professionals gain standardized, repeatable data capture. Developers can integrate the open CT command set into virtually any automated workflow.

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Additional Resources

Resource	Link
Official Website	comxim.com
User Manual & Documentation	comxim.com/user-guide
Software & Apps	comxim.com/softwareapps-demo
USB Driver	comxim.com/download-usb-driver
Developer Tools	comxim.com/development-kit
CT Command List	comxim.com/the-new-command-list
Video Tutorials	comxim.com/application-video-tutorial
Web Console	comxim.com/web-device-console