I agree with Peter. It's not very hard to set up. I've been running a config like this for years.

There are rumors of a way to connect a Crestron touchpanels directly to an AMX system without a Crestron processor, but I don't know if the rumors are true. So you'll need a Crestron processor to make the interface.

If the "in table touchpanel" is a C2N-FT-TPS4, then you can use Crestron's cheapest processor, the QM-RMC. If the touchpanel you want is an older one, that requires a Cresnet connection, you'll need a processor with Cresnet (Cresnet is Crestron's version of AxLink).

The easiest connection between the two systems is serial. But you can also use ethernet - just set up one side as a TCP/IP Server, and the other side as a TCP/IP Client.

Building your own protocol is easy. Since you're used to the AMX side of things, you can just send channel numbers to the AMX, and then use a "do_push" to connect them in to your existing AMX program. Like Peter said, you're just creating your own communication protocol for the systems to talk.

Crestron also has a symbol you could use instead of writing your own protocol - but then you'll have to interpret it on the AMX side. The symbol is called "Intersystem Communications", and it's the one on the "Program" side, not the "Configure" side.

In my house, I have an MLX-3 (far superior to the R4 it replaced) that controls my AMX. I also use Crestron's iPad program, as it's cheaper than AMX's. I wrote a module for the Crestron side, a couple lines and a DO_PUSH on the AMX side, and ethernet to tie the systems together. It's very stable and works great!