Rapidly digitize your Magic deck with this 3D-printable scanning rig

We name them “deck builders” for a cause: as a result of gamers find yourself with enormous piles of buying and selling playing cards. They will get tough to handle, which is why the ManaBox app exists for Magic: The Gathering. It lets collectors scan and log their decks, which is helpful for all the pieces from discovering market values to optimizing deck builds. To hurry up the scanning course of, Fraens designed this 3D-printable rig.

The ManaBox app has a pleasant characteristic that lets customers scan playing cards with their telephone’s digicam. The app acknowledges the scanned card after which provides it to the library. However doing that manually, one card at a time, could be a labor-intensive course of for big collections. This rig automates that by feeding playing cards from a deck to a scanning space. After the app logs a card, the machine strikes on to the subsequent card.

That occurs underneath the management of an Arduino Nano board. It turns the feed motor by way of a primary L298N H-bridge driver. A light-weight dependent resistor triggers when a card is in place, so the Arduino is aware of when to cease the motor.

However it’s the motor beginning course of that’s notably intelligent. Fraens wanted a manner for the machine to find out when a scan finishes, so it could push the subsequent card into place. The ManaBox app performs a sound after a profitable scan and the Arduino listens for that by way of a microphone. When it hears the sound (or any sound — the room should be quiet), it is aware of to proceed.

Nonetheless, Fraens bumped into a problem with scanning sure reflective playing cards. An excessive amount of glare would break a scan, so Fraens added a subtle LED ring gentle with adjustable brightness and hue. After placing a brand new card in place, the machine waits to listen to the notification sound of a profitable scan. If an excessive amount of time passes with out that sound, the Arduino will start adjusting the lighting parameters till the scan succeeds.

That is, in fact, an terrible lot of labor for those who solely have just a few dozen playing cards. However if in case you have tons of or hundreds in your assortment, it could possibly be worthwhile.