SpecSMC

SpecSMC is a Python package for controlling the probe iris and QLP probes in Bruker BioSpin spectrometers. The name combines “Spec,” short for spectrometer, with “SMC,” short for Stepper Motor Controller.

Requirements

• Python 3.8 or later
• pySerial

Installation

Install through PyPI:

python -m pip install SpecSMC

From the project root, install SpecSMC with pip:

python -m pip install .

For development, install it in editable mode:

python -m pip install -e .

Terminal Control Panel

After installation, the SpecSMC command opens an interactive control panel.

Use auto-detection:

SpecSMC

Or specify the serial port and baud rate:

SpecSMC -p COM3 -b 96000

All connection arguments are optional. If an argument is skipped, SpecSMC uses the default value from SMC.

Available startup options:

SpecSMC [-h] [-p PORT] [-b BAUD_RATE] [--write-timeout WRITE_TIMEOUT] [--timeout TIMEOUT] [-v VERBOSE]

Inside the control panel, call public SMC methods by typing the method name followed by arguments:

SpecSMC> status
SpecSMC> move IRIS 0.8
SpecSMC> feedrate IRIS 5
SpecSMC> set_axis_alias Z Probe
SpecSMC> homing_sensitivity IRIS 120
SpecSMC> relative true
SpecSMC> send_command M114 true
SpecSMC> help
SpecSMC> exit

Argument values such as numbers, true, false, and none are converted to Python values automatically.

Axis aliases are display names only. By default, Z is shown as IRIS; commands sent to the controller still use the underlying X, Y, Z, or E axis letters.

Graphical Control Panel

SpecSMC also includes a Tkinter GUI. Start it with:

SpecSMC-gui

You can pre-fill the connection settings from the command line:

SpecSMC-gui -p COM3 -b 96000

The GUI attempts to connect automatically when it opens. By default, the port selector uses Auto, which lets SpecSMC detect the controller. To open the GUI without connecting automatically:

SpecSMC-gui --no-auto-connect

The GUI provides controls for:

• Top tabs for each configured axis, Connection, Advanced, and Raw command.
• A bottom log window for status and command output.
• Connecting and disconnecting from the controller.
• A connection LED: red for disconnected, green for connected, and orange while busy.
• Selecting a motion axis directly from the top-level tabs.
• Moving a linear axis.
• Rotating a rotational axis.
• Viewing a live vertical position rail or rotation dial for the selected axis.
• Homing a selected linear axis.
• Setting home position.
• Reading current status.
• Automatically switching between absolute text-entry moves and relative arrow-step moves.
• Using the Advanced tab to choose an axis independently and edit display name, motion type, motion limits, feedrate, homing sensitivity, motor current, and steps per unit.
• Saving, restoring, and resetting controller settings.
• Sending raw G-code commands.

Display names, motion types, and motion limits changed in the GUI are saved automatically and loaded the next time the GUI starts. Repository defaults are stored in SpecSMC/config/default_config.json; local GUI changes are saved to SpecSMC/config/config.json, which is ignored by git. IRIS defaults to a linear range of 0 to 8. The Advanced tab also has an Override motion limits checkbox for deliberate out-of-range moves on the selected axis only.

The GUI checks the connected serial port periodically. If the controller is physically disconnected, the connection LED turns red and motion controls are disabled.

The selected axis controls are type-aware: linear axes enable position arrows, and rotational axes enable angle arrows. Linear axis tabs show only position controls, and rotational axis tabs show only angle controls.

The motion text box shows the current position or angle. Edit the value and press Enter to move in absolute mode. Use the arrow buttons to move by the selected step; arrow moves automatically switch the controller to relative mode. Linear axes allow 0.1, 0.5, or 1 mm steps. Rotational axes allow 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, or 10 degree steps.

Python API

First, make sure the product is properly installed and connected to the controller. Connect the controller to the computer with a USB cable and power on the system.

Then create an SMC instance:

import SpecSMC

smc = SpecSMC.SMC()

To specify a port and baud rate:

import SpecSMC

smc = SpecSMC.SMC(port="COM3", baud_rate=96000)

Sending Commands

Once the connection has been established, send movement commands through the SMC object:

smc.move("IRIS", 0.8)          # Move the Z-axis rod linearly by 0.8 mm.

Useful status and setup methods:

print(smc.status())      # Print cached controller status.
print(smc.position())    # Query current positions from the controller.
smc.feedrate("IRIS", 5)  # Set Z-axis feedrate.
smc.homing_sensitivity("IRIS", 120)
smc.relative(True)       # Enable relative movement mode.
smc.home("IRIS")         # Home a linear axis.
smc.save()               # Save configurable settings to EEPROM.

To change display names later, update aliases after creating the controller:

smc.set_axis_alias("Z", "Probe")

Example Script

import SpecSMC

smc = SpecSMC.SMC()

smc.help()
print(smc.status())

smc.theta("X", 30)
print(smc.position())

smc.theta("X", -60)
print(smc.position())

smc.home("X")
print(smc.position())

License

Copyright (C) 2026 Bruker BioSpin.

SpecSMC is licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 3 only (GPL-3.0-only). You may use, modify, and redistribute it under the terms of that license. See LICENSE for the complete license text.