Card Sorting Machine Documentation
For Magic: The Gathering (MTG) players, collectors, and card shop owners, sorting and organizing thousands of cards can be a daunting task.
Introduction
Automated card sorting machines offer a powerful solution, making it easy to categorize cards by set, color, rarity, price, or other criteria. Whether you're looking for a high-end commercial machine or a DIY solution, there are various options to consider.
Best Commercial Card Sorting Machines
Roca Sorter (TCGplayer)
- Sorting Capabilities: Uses high-resolution image recognition to identify and sort cards.
- Performance: 500–725 cards per hour.
- Pricing: $20,000+ for 1,000-card model, $32,000+ for Roca Max.
Highly automated and accurate.
Very expensive.
CardBot (CardCastle)
- Sorting Capabilities: Sorts by price, set, color, rarity.
- Performance: Up to 1,000 cards per hour.
- Pricing: Subscription-based (~$250/month lease + ~$145/month software fee).
High throughput.
Requires ongoing subscription.
DIY Solutions for Sorting MTG Cards
Popular DIY Projects
- Lego + Raspberry Pi Sorter: Uses AWS Rekognition API to sort cards by image.
- Trading Card Machine (Instructables): Built with rotating bins and Google Cloud Vision API.
Comparison: Commercial vs DIY Sorting Machines
| Feature | Commercial Sorters | DIY Sorters |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $2,800–$30,000+ | $200–$800 |
| Sorting Speed | 500–6,000 cards/hour | 100–1,500 cards/hour |
| Best For | Stores & high-volume users | Hobbyists & small collections |
Conclusion
For game stores and high-volume collectors, commercial sorters offer speed and accuracy. For hobbyists, a DIY sorting machine is a budget-friendly, customizable option.