NLink CAN-USB Adapter

Seamless Connectivity with CAN Bus Network

The NLink Adapter is a compact, bidirectional CAN-to-USB communication interface designed to connect NMotion hardware components to a PC, laptop, Raspberry Pi, Jetson, or other USB-equipped host system. It acts as the communication bridge between CAN-based NMotion devices and the host computer, enabling configuration, monitoring, diagnostics, and real-time control through the NMotion software ecosystem.

With two independent CAN ports and a USB-C interface, the NLink Adapter can be integrated into a wide range of robotics and automation setups. The adapter is USB-powered, eliminating the need for a separate power supply on the interface itself and simplifying system wiring.

The NLink Adapter operates at a default CAN bus baud rate of 500 kbps and supports communication speeds of up to 1 Mbps, making it suitable for connecting multiple NMotion devices over a CAN network. The dual CAN connectors also provide flexibility when wiring multiple devices and building distributed motion-control systems.

Software Integration

The NLink Adapter is designed for direct integration with the NMotion Transport Library SDK, providing a straightforward interface for communicating with NMotion motor controllers, encoders, actuators, and other CAN-based components from C++ and Python applications.

For Linux-based systems, the adapter supports SocketCAN, allowing it to be used with standard Linux CAN utilities and software such as slcand. This makes the NLink useful not only with the NMotion SDK but also for CAN bus development, debugging, testing, and integration with existing robotics software.

The adapter is based on modified CANable firmware, providing compatibility with established CAN-over-USB workflows while incorporating support required for the NMotion hardware ecosystem.

Key Features

• Bidirectional CAN-to-USB communication

• 2 × CAN ports for flexible CAN network connectivity

• 1 × USB-C port for host communication and power

• USB powered — no external power supply required

• CAN bus speeds from the default 500 kbps up to 1 Mbps

• SocketCAN support for Linux

• Compatible with standard CAN tools and slcand

• NMotion SDK support for C++ and Python applications

• Suitable for configuring, controlling, monitoring, and debugging NMotion devices

• Compact interface for robotics, automation, and embedded development

The NLink Adapter provides a simple and reliable connection between CAN-based motion-control hardware and modern USB-equipped computing platforms, making it suitable for development, testing, prototyping, and deployment of robotic and automation systems.