CAN SAE J1939® – One standard across mobile off-highway machinery
With CAN SAE J1939 control you get an all-in-one package solution. LINAK® actuators with built-in CAN bus are easy to install and adjust to fit a wide range of heavy-duty machinery.
What is CAN SAE J1939?
CAN SAE J1939 is a standardized method developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for communication across Electronic Control Units (ECU) – offering a common language for all manufacturers. CAN SAE J1939 provides a Higher Layer Protocol (HLP) which is based on the physical Controller Areas Network (CAN) layer.
The protocol has been on the market for decades and is widely used in mobile off-highway machinery for construction, material handling, and forestry machines to support smart automation.
Features of actuators with CAN SAE J1939
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
Hardware and software addressing | Generation of seven unique CAN addresses by a simple pin configuration change. The result is fast installation and replacement, and you can even use the same actuators for several purposes.The software CAN address assignment can be achieved using the LINAK service tool or the J1939 diagnostics. |
Dynamic speed adjustment | Speed variation throughout the actuator movement and direct read-out of speed on the CAN bus network. |
Soft start and stop | Soft-start and stop times can be set directly using a CAN command. You can set a ramp time for a smoother run to reduce mechanical stress on your machinery. |
Increased compatibility | A wide range of fixed communication speeds in addition to Autobaud for increased compatibility with various machinery. |
The benefits of actuators with integrated CAN SAE J1939 are many
- Check real-time position of the actuators
- Monitor their status feedback such as speed, run-time, current and other conditions
- Full diagnostics and service overview including both current and historic data
- Fewer components and simple wiring, easy to integrate in your machine
- Increased flexibility for adapting the same actuator to fit various types of applications
- Service data allows for faster troubleshooting and maintenance
Supporting files for CAN bus:
At LINAK® we currently supply actuators with two different CAN bus software versions - v1.x or v3.x. Determine the actuator version with the LINAK BusLink software Connect the actuator to the BusLink software to verify the correct software version. When the actuator is connected you can find the ‘Connection Information’ tab. In the example below, the LA36 CAN bus actuator has version 3.0. For further information, please see the BusLink service interface chapter in the CAN bus user manual.
What is the difference between version 1.x and version 3.x? On CAN bus v 3.0 we have introduced several new functionalities - such as hardware addressing, dynamic speed adjustment, soft start/stop commands and increased compatibility (125 kbps, 250 kbps, 500 kbps and Autobaud). Please note that the soft start/stop must now be defined in the CAN bus command (in version 3.x). If left at 0 it will result in no ramping. If set to 251 it will use the actuator’s predefined factory settings. Any number in between will set the ramping time. For further information, please see the Communication chapter in the CAN bus user manual. BusLink quick guide Find a guide on how to use the BusLink program for your actuator by clicking the BusLink icon.
CAN bus user manual for software version 1
CAN bus user manual for software version 3
A CAN DBC file (CAN database) is available for easier setup. It consists of a text file that contains information for decoding raw CAN bus data to 'physical values'.
Actuators with IC Integrated Controller from LINAK can be configured via the BusLink configuration software.
Download a free version of the latest BusLink software to configure your actuator or read out service data. The basic functionalities are explained here, and each communication protocol also comes with a variety of added features and guidelines.

