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Programming the Thomson Electrac Linear Actuator - ACM and AFM Data Frames
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This post represents an excerpt of Thomson Electrac HD Linear Actuator Motion Control per CAN Bus. The application note is available in eBook and Kindle format, and it includes a free downloadable source code. More Information...
In this post, I am explaining the Actuator Control Message (ACM) and Actuator Feedback Message (AFM).
Thomson Electrac Linear Actuator - ACM Design
The ACM data frame (PGN) controls:
- Position Command
- Current Limit
- Speed Command
- Motion Enable Signal
The architecture of the ACM message and its parameters is explained adequately in the user manual.
Reference: Page 24, “5.2.4 SAE J1939 actuator control message (ACM)” in the user manual.
The programming/coding of the actuator control message (ACM) is demonstrated in chapter Building the Actuator Control Message (ACM).
Thomson Electrac Linear Actuator - AFM Interpretation
In turn, the actuator provides feedback per AFM such as:
- Measured Position
- Measured Current
- Running Speed
- Voltage Error
- Temperature Error
- And more...
The architecture of the AFM message and its parameters is explained adequately in the user manual.
The programming/coding of the actuator feedback message (AFM) is demonstrated in chapter Handling the Actuator Feedback Message (AFM).
Arduino-Based ECU Development Board With Dual CAN Bus Interface
Leverage the power of an ARM Cortex M3 32-bit processing capability in combination with a dual CAN Bus interface to create your next CAN Bus or SAE J1939 application or prototype. By combining our dual CAN port interface, the Arduino DUE microcontroller, an OBD2 or SAE J1939 cable, and open-source software libraries you are ready to go with powerful a turn-key Arduino-based dual CAN bus solution.
Programming the Thomson Electrac Linear Actuator - Sleep Mode
This post represents an excerpt of Thomson Electrac HD Linear Actuator Motion Control per CAN Bus. The application note is available in eBook and Kindle format, and it includes a free downloadable source code. More Information... In this post, I am explaining the actuator's sleep mode, which, if not fully understood, may cause some headache during the development [...]
Thomson Electrac HD Linear Actuator - Fatal Error Flag at Low Speed
As part of a customer project, I was asked to develop a hardware system to control a linear actuator, specifically the Thomson Electrac HD model with SAE J1939 interface. The Electrac Linear Actuator is a great product, and it is always rewarding to see the application literally move. Yet, working on this application was at [...]
Thomson Electrak HD Linear Actuator - Multiple Actuators in the Same Network Will Empty the Batteries
Back in April 2022, I published a post, Thomson Electrak Linear Actuator with SAE J1939 Interface for Railway and Industrial Applications with the intention to use the gained knowledge and publish it in form of an application report. However, after months of working with this product (time frame, not efforts), I still discovered what I call [...]
Electromechanical Linear Actuators With Embedded SAE J1939 Interface For Mobile Off-Highway Applications
Thomson (US) introduced its Electrak MD electromechanical linear actuators with an embedded SAE J1939 interface. They are suited for mobile off-highway, material handling, and factory automation applications. The integrated features reduce space consumption by keeping external equipment (e.g., encoders, switches) within the actuator housing. This functionality provides straightforward control and communication methods. Besides the CAN Bus connectivity, the actuators [...]
Linear Actuator With Integrated SAE J1939 / CAN Bus Controller
LINAK Australia has introduced the new SAE J1939 control for their LA36 actuators as an all-in-one package solution. With this well-known CAN (Controller Area Network) based protocol, the user doesn’t need to customize electronics to use linear actuator movement in their CAN bus system.Actuators with built-in CAN bus control offer simple installation and can adjust to fit [...]