Summary of The CANable: a small USB to CAN adapter
The CANable is an open-source hardware clone of the CANtact USB to CAN adapter, redesigned for personal use with a smaller PCB and a screw terminal instead of a DB9 connector. It features an STM32L042 microcontroller using its onboard high-speed oscillator, a micro-USB connector, and a smaller 3.3V regulator. The hardware and firmware are available for fabrication, with firmware modified to utilize the internal oscillator. Production is not currently active but may be considered if there’s sufficient interest.
Parts used in the CANable:
- STM32L042 microcontroller
- Micro-USB connector
- 3.3V voltage regulator
- Screw terminal connector
- PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
The CANable is a hardware clone of Eric Evenchick’s CANtact project, an open-hardware USB to CAN adapter compatible with socketcan. I took his design and reworked the hardware to be a bit more suitable for my personal needs, with a screw terminal instead of a DB9 connector and a much smaller PCB.
The design is open-source hardware and the schematic is nearly identical to CANtact except CANable uses the STM32L042’s onboard high speed oscillator, has a micro-USB connector, and has a smaller 3.3v regulator. Feel free to pull down the hardware source and the firmware (a forked version of the CANtact firmware that uses the internal oscillator instead of an external crystal).
I’m currently not producing these boards, but you may fabricate your own from the source files linked above. If there’s enough interest I may consider fabricating and selling some boards. Drop a comment if you’re interested!
For more detail: The CANable: a small USB to CAN adapter
