NI PXI CAN Interfaces

NI PXI CAN interfaces connect modular PXI test systems to Controller Area Network buses used by electronic control units, embedded devices, and industrial equipment. They allow engineers to transmit messages, capture traffic, simulate network nodes, and evaluate device responses. Combining CAN communication with other PXI instruments helps teams correlate bus activity with electrical measurements during hardware-in-the-loop testing, product validation, troubleshooting, and production test.

The range includes legacy PXI-846x interfaces and NI-XNET PXI-851x models. Within the legacy family, PXI-8461 provides high-speed CAN, PXI-8460 handles low-speed/fault-tolerant CAN, and PXI-8464 Series 2 offers software-selectable high-speed, low-speed, and single-wire operation. The older PXI-8462 combines a high-speed first port with a low-speed second port. Series 1 and Series 2 hardware must be identified correctly when maintaining established systems.

NI-XNET options include the PXI-8512 for high-speed CAN and CAN FD. Its one-port version is part number 780687-01; the two-port version is 780687-02. The PXI-8513 provides software-selectable transceivers, with one-port 780688-01 and two-port 780688-02 configurations. It supports high-speed/CAN FD, low-speed/fault-tolerant, and single-wire networks. Dedicated low-speed/fault-tolerant PXI-8511 configurations are identified by 780686-01 for one port and 780686-02 for two ports.

NI-XNET models use a device-driven DMA engine to transfer network data with reduced host processor involvement. Frame-based access supports working with message identifiers and payloads, while signal-based access uses database definitions to convert data into engineering units. CANdb DBC and FIBEX support helps engineers reuse network descriptions instead of manually decoding every message. Legacy PXI-846x devices use NI-CAN rather than the native NI-XNET API.

Timing features are especially useful when a test sequence must compare an ECU command with a measured voltage, current, or sensor response. Supported PXI synchronization resources can align CAN timestamps with other acquisition tasks. A single-port interface suits one network, while a two-port version can monitor or stimulate two separate buses. Confirm synchronization routing and operating-system support against the exact hardware and driver documentation before committing changes.

Selecting an interface requires more than matching the connector. Check the CAN physical layer, port count, bit rate, termination, isolation requirements, chassis slot compatibility, and software environment. Classical high-speed CAN operates at up to 1 Mbit/s, while supported NI-XNET high-speed interfaces provide CAN FD data-phase rates up to 8 Mbit/s. Actual network settings must suit the connected devices, wiring, and transceivers. Do not assume a legacy CAN card supports CAN FD.

For replacement projects, document the complete model, ordering number, hardware generation, driver version, and application dependencies. An NI-XNET replacement may require code changes or NI's compatibility library; functional validation remains important. Contact Apex Waves to discuss sourcing NI PXI CAN interfaces for an existing test platform, matching replacement requirements, or planning spare hardware for long-term system maintenance.