Castellated Dreams Delivers a Compact, Surface-Mountable CAN Bus Module Built on Microchip's MCP2515
Connecting to a host device over SPI, this compact module uses castellated headers for breadboard, manual wiring, or surface-mount use.
Appropriately-named electronics design house "Castellated Dreams" has designed a surface-mountable yet breadboard-friendly module that makes it easier to add CAN bus connectivity to your next build, using the Microchip MCP2515 controller.
"This module is based on the reliable [Microchip] MCP2515 chip which is interfaced using SPI," Castellated Dreams explains of its creation. "With its breadboard-friendly design, you can easily test your solutions before integrating them into your main system. The castellated holes allow the module to be soldered directly onto another PCB, making implementation faster and easier. This makes it an ideal choice for hobby projects, prototyping, and even more advanced applications."
The module's design stems from the company's previous work on projects ranging from vehicles inspired by NASA's Mars rovers to underwater robotic systems and hobbyist rocketry. Anything designed to add CAN bus connectivity proved too bulky for easy integration, or needed the builder to reinvent the wheel — problems solved, Castellated Dreams claims, with its own module design.
Measuring 17.8×16.5mm (around 0.7×0.65"), the module measures in at around a quarter the footprint of rival designs. Connectivity, including SPI for communication with Microchip's CAN controller, is brought out to castellated headers — meaning it's possible to solder standard 0.1" pins in place for breadboard use or manual wiring or to solder the whole board down on another PCB as a surface-mount component.
The company is selling its CAN bus module on Tindie at $28.50; headers can be added for $2, either loose in the package or pre-soldered for your convenience.