Secondary Development Guide for ComXim Programmable Turntables
Introduction
ComXim programmable turntables are built with developers and system integrators in mind. Unlike consumer-grade turntables that offer only remote or app-based control, ComXim turntables expose a unified, text-based command interface that allows you to control every aspect of the device programmatically.
Whether you are building a custom 360° photography automation system, integrating a turntable into an industrial inspection line, or developing a mobile app for a specific vertical market, the CT (ComXim Turntable) command system gives you complete control over rotation, positioning, shutter triggering, lighting, and more.
This guide covers everything you need to get started with secondary development – from understanding the command structure to writing your first control program.
What Makes ComXim Turntables Developer-Friendly?
ComXim turntables stand out in the market for their commitment to open programmability. Key features include:
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Unified CT command set | Same commands work across USB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth – no need to rewrite code for different connection methods |
| Plain text commands | No proprietary binaries, DLLs, or SDKs required – just simple ASCII strings |
| Real-time feedback | Acknowledgment (ACK), event notifications, and error codes provide full visibility into turntable status |
| Heartbeat mechanism | Built-in connection monitoring ensures reliable communication |
| Cross-platform compatibility | Works with Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and any platform that supports serial or socket communication |
| Multiple interfaces | USB (virtual COM port), Wi-Fi (TCP/IP), and Bluetooth (BLE) – choose what fits your architecture |
Two Paths to Secondary Development
Depending on your comfort level and requirements, you can approach secondary development in two ways:
Path 1: Learn from TurntableX (Windows Software)
The easiest way to learn CT commands is to use TurntableX – ComXim’s Windows control software. Every action you perform in the software – clicking a button, adjusting a slider, starting a rotation – generates a CT command that is displayed in the debug window.
How to use this method:
- Connect your turntable via USB or Wi-Fi
- Open TurntableX and establish a connection
- Perform actions (e.g., set angle, start step rotation, enable shutter)
- Watch the command display window to see the corresponding CT commands
- Copy and paste these commands into your own code
This is the most intuitive way to learn the command set without reading through pages of documentation.
Path 2: Direct CT Command Programming
For developers who prefer to work directly with the command set, ComXim provides a complete CT Command List that documents every available command, its parameters, and expected responses.
Typical workflow:
- Download the CT Command List from the ComXim website
- Test commands using a serial terminal tool (e.g., SSCOM, PuTTY, SecureCRT)
- Integrate commands into your application code
CT Command Fundamentals
Command Format
All CT commands follow a strict, consistent format:
CT+COMMAND(parameter1, parameter2, ...);Components:
CT– Command prefix (identifies the string as a turntable command)+– Separator between prefix and command nameCOMMAND– The specific command name (e.g.,START,SETMODE,TURNSINGLE)(parameter1, parameter2, ...)– Parameters enclosed in parentheses;– Terminating semicolon (marks the end of the command)
Example:
CT+START(0,1,1,15,2,24);Response Types
When the turntable receives a command, it provides feedback through three response mechanisms:
| Response Type | Format | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment (ACK) | CR+OK; |
Command was received and accepted |
| Event Notification | CR+EVENT=TB_END; |
An action has completed (e.g., rotation finished) |
| Error Code | CR+ERR=XX; |
An error occurred (see error code table) |
Heartbeat Mechanism
The turntable and control device maintain a heartbeat to monitor connection status:
- The turntable sends a
#character every 1 second when connected - If no
#or command is received for 3 seconds, the turntable enters heartbeat-loss state - In heartbeat-loss state, the turntable sends
##every 1 second until communication is restored - The control device should implement a similar monitoring mechanism
Note: Heartbeat can be enabled or disabled using the
CT+HEARTBEAT(onOff);command.
Core CT Command Categories
1. System Commands
| Command | Parameters | Description |
|---|---|---|
CT+ACK(onOff) |
0=off, 1=on | Enable/disable command acknowledgment |
CT+EVENT(onOff) |
0=off, 1=on | Enable/disable event notifications |
CT+HEARTBEAT(onOff) |
0=off, 1=on | Enable/disable heartbeat |
CT+SAVECONF() |
None | Save current settings to flash memory |
2. Query Commands
| Command | Parameters | Description |
|---|---|---|
CT+GETPN() |
None | Get product model name |
CT+GETEBC() |
None | Get unique electronic birth code (for software licensing) |
CT+GETFWV() |
None | Get firmware version |
CT+GETOFFSETANGLE() |
None | Get current position relative to origin |
CT+GETTBCONFIG() |
None | Get all saved configuration parameters |
3. Motion Control Commands
| Command | Parameters | Description |
|---|---|---|
CT+START(dir,mode,shutter,angle,pause,times) |
6 parameters | Start a multi-step rotation sequence |
CT+TURNSINGLE(dir,angle) |
2 parameters | Rotate by a single specified angle |
CT+SETMODE(mode) |
0=continuous, 1=step, 2=pendulum | Set rotation mode |
CT+SETDIR(direction) |
0=clockwise, 1=counter-clockwise | Set rotation direction |
CT+SETANGLE(angle) |
Positive float (degrees) | Set step angle |
CT+SETPAUSETIME(seconds) |
Positive integer | Set pause time between steps |
CT+SETREPEATTIMES(times) |
Positive integer | Set number of repeats |
CT+SETSTOP() |
None | Stop rotation immediately |
CT+RUN() |
None | Start rotation with current settings |
4. Position Management Commands
| Command | Parameters | Description |
|---|---|---|
CT+SETZERO() |
None | Set current position as origin |
CT+TOZERO() |
None | Return to origin via shortest path |
CT+TOZEROBYDIR(direction) |
0=clockwise, 1=counter-clockwise | Return to origin in specified direction |
5. Shutter Control Commands (Shutter-Enabled Models)
| Command | Parameters | Description |
|---|---|---|
CT+SETAUTOSHUTTER(onOff) |
0=off, 1=on | Enable/disable auto shutter |
CT+CAMERACTRL(focus,capture) |
0=off, 1=on | Manual camera control (focus + shutter) |
CT+PHONECAMCTRL(time) |
Milliseconds (250-500) | Trigger smartphone Bluetooth shutter |
6. Lighting Control Commands (LED-Enabled Models)
| Command | Parameters | Description |
|---|---|---|
CT+SETRGBCOLOR(R,G,B) |
0-255 each | Set RGB LED color |
CT+POWERLED(ledNum,grade) |
LED number, brightness grade | Set power LED brightness |
CT+COLORLED(led1,led2,led3) |
0=off, 1=on | Control individual color LEDs |
Getting Started: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Choose Your Connection Method
| Interface | How to Connect | Development Approach |
|---|---|---|
| USB | Virtual COM port via CH340 driver | Serial port programming |
| Wi-Fi | TCP/IP socket (IP: 192.168.181.181, port: 8181) | Socket programming |
| Bluetooth | BLE GATT connection (BLE 4.0) | BLE programming |
Step 2: Set Up Your Development Environment
For USB (Windows/C# example):
// Create and configure serial port
SerialPort serialPort1 = new SerialPort();
serialPort1.PortName = "COM3"; // Your COM port
serialPort1.BaudRate = 115200; // Fixed baud rate
serialPort1.Open();
// Send a command
string cmd = "CT+TURNSINGLE(0,45.0);";
serialPort1.Write(cmd);For Wi-Fi (Python example):
import socket
# Connect to turntable
sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
sock.connect(("192.168.181.181", 8181))
# Send a command
cmd = "CT+TURNSINGLE(0,45.0);"
sock.send(cmd.encode())Step 3: Test with Basic Commands
Start with simple commands to verify connectivity:
CT+GETPN(); // Should return product name
CT+GETEBC(); // Should return unique device ID
CT+TURNSINGLE(0,45.0); // Rotate 45° clockwiseStep 4: Build Your Application
Once basic commands work, you can build more complex sequences:
// 360° product photography: 24 shots, 15° per step, 2-second pause
CT+START(0,1,1,15,2,24);Practical Examples
Example 1: Single-Step Positioning
Requirement: Rotate 90° clockwise and stop.
Command:
CT+TURNSINGLE(0,90.0);Expected Response:
CR+OK;
CR+EVENT=TB_END;Example 2: Automated 360° Photography
Requirement: Capture 24 images around a full circle, with a 2-second pause between shots for the camera to process.
Command:
CT+START(0,1,1,15,2,24);Parameter breakdown:
0= Clockwise direction1= Step mode1= Auto shutter enabled15= 15° per step (360° ÷ 24)2= 2-second pause24= 24 repeats
Expected Behavior:
- Turntable triggers shutter for first photo
- Rotates 15° clockwise
- Pauses for 2 seconds
- Triggers shutter at pause midpoint (~1 second)
- Repeats steps 2-4 for a total of 24 steps
Example 3: Pendulum (Swing) Mode
Requirement: Swing 45° back and forth with auto shutter at each extreme.
Command:
CT+START(0,2,1,45,4,0);Parameter breakdown:
0= Clockwise (starting direction)2= Pendulum mode1= Auto shutter enabled45= 45° swing range4= 4-second pause at each extreme0= Infinite repeats (until stopped)
Example 4: Query Current Position
Requirement: Check current angle relative to origin.
Command:
CT+GETOFFSETANGLE();Expected Response:
OffsetAngle=+16.12° // 16.12° clockwise from originExample 5: Manual Camera Trigger
Requirement: Manually trigger camera focus and shutter.
Command:
CT+CAMERACTRL(1,1);Expected Response:
CR+OK;Error Handling
When the turntable receives an invalid command, it returns an error code:
| Error Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
CR+ERR=31 |
Command receive timeout |
CR+ERR=40 |
Device does not support this function |
CR+ERR=41 |
Command too short (< 5 characters) |
CR+ERR=42 |
Invalid command prefix (not “CT”) |
CR+ERR=43 |
Invalid separator (not “+”) |
CR+ERR=45 |
Invalid parameter start (not “(“) |
CR+ERR=46 |
Invalid parameter end (not “)”) |
CR+ERR=48 |
Invalid command terminator (not “;”) |
CR+ERR=51 |
Command name too long |
CR+ERR=52 |
Invalid command name |
CR+ERR=61 |
Empty parameter |
CR+ERR=62 |
Parameter too long |
CR+ERR=63 |
Too many parameters |
CR+ERR=64 |
Parameter count mismatch |
CR+ERR=70 |
Parameter is not numeric |
CR+ERR=80 |
Parameter value out of valid range |
Best Practices for Secondary Development
1. Implement Heartbeat Monitoring
Always implement heartbeat monitoring in your application. If the turntable stops receiving heartbeats, it may enter an unknown state.
2. Use Acknowledgment and Events
Enable CT+ACK(1) and CT+EVENT(1) to receive confirmation and completion notifications. This ensures your application knows when commands have been executed.
3. Save Configuration
Use CT+SAVECONF() to save settings to flash memory. The turntable will use these settings after power cycling.
4. Handle Errors Gracefully
Implement error handling for all commands. The turntable may reject commands due to invalid parameters or unsupported features.
5. Test with TurntableX First
Before writing code, use TurntableX to test commands interactively. The software displays every command it sends – use this as a reference for your own implementation.
6. Consider Connection Priority
When both USB and other control methods are active, USB commands take priority. This prevents conflicts in multi-control environments.
7. Use the Unique EBC for Licensing
The CT+GETEBC() command returns a unique Electronic Birth Code for each turntable. Use this to implement software licensing or device authentication in your applications.
Command Quick Reference
| Category | Command | Example |
|---|---|---|
| System | CT+HEARTBEAT(1); |
Enable heartbeat |
| System | CT+SAVECONF(); |
Save settings to flash |
| Query | CT+GETPN(); |
Get product name |
| Query | CT+GETOFFSETANGLE(); |
Get current position |
| Motion | CT+TURNSINGLE(0,45.0); |
Rotate 45° clockwise |
| Motion | CT+START(0,1,1,15,2,24); |
24-step 360° rotation |
| Motion | CT+SETSTOP(); |
Stop rotation |
| Position | CT+SETZERO(); |
Set current position as origin |
| Position | CT+TOZERO(); |
Return to origin |
| Shutter | CT+SETAUTOSHUTTER(1); |
Enable auto shutter |
| Shutter | CT+CAMERACTRL(1,1); |
Trigger focus + shutter |
| Lighting | CT+SETRGBCOLOR(255,0,0); |
Set LED to red |
Conclusion
ComXim programmable turntables offer one of the most accessible and flexible secondary development platforms in the motorized turntable market. The unified CT command system works identically across USB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connections, and the plain-text command format means you can integrate turntable control into virtually any programming environment.
Key takeaways for developers:
- Start simple – Use TurntableX to learn commands interactively
- Use the CT Command List – The complete documentation is your reference guide
- Implement heartbeat monitoring – Ensures reliable communication
- Handle errors – The turntable provides detailed error codes
- Save configuration – Settings persist across power cycles
- Test thoroughly – Verify commands with the turntable before deploying to production
Whether you are building a custom photography automation system, integrating a turntable into an industrial workflow, or developing a commercial application, the ComXim CT command system provides the control, flexibility, and reliability you need.
Additional Resources
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Website | comxim.com |
| User Manual & Documentation | comxim.com/user-guide |
| Software & Apps Download | comxim.com/softwareapps-demo |
| USB Driver | comxim.com/download-usb-driver |
| Developer Tools | comxim.com/development-kit |
| Latest CT Command List | comxim.com/the-new-command-list |
| Developer Help Center | comxim.com/developer-help-center |
| Video: SDK Command Tutorial | comxim.com/turntable-sdk-command-video-tutorial |
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