Choose your set
Can You Use Ordinary Tiles in an Automatic Mahjong Table?
Check the exact table model and its approved tiles before putting a decorative or replacement set into an automatic mechanism.
Do not put an ordinary mahjong set into an automatic shuffling mechanism unless the table manufacturer confirms compatibility. Matching the visible tile size is not enough to establish that a set will work with a particular machine.
Find the table's exact model
Read the model label and the current manual. Ask the maker which replacement tiles are approved, including their dimensions and any magnetic requirements. A seller's description of tiles as “automatic-table compatible” still needs to match your specific table.
For example, Bespoke Mahjong's FAQ specifies 40 mm magnetic tiles for its tables and warns against using different tiles. That is a requirement for those products, not a universal dimension for every automatic table.
Separate playing inventory from mechanical fit
A set can contain the pieces your preferred game needs while still being unsuitable for the machine. Conversely, mechanically compatible tiles do not establish that the set contains the flowers, jokers or markings your chosen rules require.
Check both questions before purchasing. Keep the manufacturer's written answer with the model information so a future replacement order does not start from guesswork.
Avoid a trial-and-error test
Do not feed unfamiliar tiles into the mechanism to see whether they pass through. If the approved specification is unavailable, leave the machine unused for that experiment and ask the maker for guidance.
Café Mahjong's sets should not be assumed to work in an automatic table. Consider them for an ordinary playing surface unless compatibility is explicitly confirmed. A beautiful set and a specialised shuffling system are separate purchases that need a verified match.
Further reading: Bespoke Mahjong: table tile compatibility FAQ.