Predictika · Printed circuit board quotes

An AI sales agent's PCB order quote, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a quote for printed circuit boards: technology, layers, base material, line width and spacing, vias, copper, surface finish, options and a quantity discount. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika's validator, which checks it against a declarative model of the capability limits and reports every problem it finds in one pass.

Scope: Cicor printed circuit boards: flexible, rigid, rigid-flex, DenciTec and embedded die PCBs with their layer counts, materials, vias and options. Items marked with an asterisk (*) are illustrative. See everything this validator covers

This validator models Cicor PCB orders built on the capabilities Cicor publishes, not just the scenarios shown below. Items marked with an asterisk (*) are illustrative.

  • Technologies and limits — flexible boards of 1 to 8 layers on polyimide foil from 12.5 micrometers with a bond ply from 15 micrometers, rigid boards of 1 to 12 layers, rigid-flex on high-Tg low-CTE FR4 with polyimide, embedded die boards, and DenciTec with lines down to 25 micrometers, 30 micrometer laser vias, 20 plus or minus 5 micrometers of copper and 30 and 20 micrometer annular rings.
  • Vias, options and finishes — laser blind, copper-filled, stacked, staggered and via-in-pad vias (mechanically drilled vias* for plain boards), coverlay, edge plating, castellations, controlled impedance and cavities, and the ENIG*, ENEPIG*, immersion silver* and OSP* finishes.
  • Price and discount — a per-board price and one-time tooling, a quantity discount that goes to approval above the standard and is blocked above the maximum, and a stated total compared with the priced lines.

Any Cicor PCB order that touches these technologies and rules is in scope, not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: assembly and box build, 3D-MID, other Cicor businesses, board size and thickness limits, lead times, taxes and shipping. Prices, tooling charges and several limits are typical for this kind of product rather than published by Cicor (see the fine print at the end).

The AI sales agentBuilds the PCB quote from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

8 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Layer limits that differ by technologyOnly with care
A product rule per technology and layer range. It works, but every technology and its limits is another set of rules to maintain.		The technology and layer count are in one request and checked together.
Material, foil and bond ply that depend on the technology and the layer countOnly with workarounds
The foil, bond ply and base material depend on the technology on one line and the layers on another, so they need cross-line rules that interact with each other.		Technology, layers and materials are in one request, so every conflict is found whatever order the choices arrive in.
Process windows such as DenciTec copper and annular ringsOnly with care
A range check per parameter and technology; easy to leave out one when a technology is added.		Each window is checked on every call alongside the rest.
Quantity discounts with a hard cap and an approval bandOnly with care
A discount schedule plus an approval rule for each band; the cap and the standard have to be kept in step.		The standard for the quantity and the cap are computed on every call; above the standard goes to approval, above the cap is blocked.
A stated total that must equal the priced linesOnly with care
A stated figure is a free-entry field; a rule can compare it with the computed total, but someone has to write and maintain that comparison.		The stated total travels with the quote and is compared with the computed net total on every call.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the quote is saved or a step is completed, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1Embedded die boards are developed with the customer, and an engineer should review the die, stack-up and assembly plan.
29 layers is outside the layer range of the selected technology; flexible and DenciTec boards are made with 1 to 8 layers, rigid boards with 1 to 12, rigid-flex with 2 to 12 and embedded die boards with 4 to 24.
3Line width and spacing of 24 micrometers is below the 25 micrometer limit.
4Line width and spacing of 25 micrometers is at the limit of the process, and a design for manufacturing review should confirm it.
5Line width and spacing below 50 micrometers is made with DenciTec only; 40 micrometers is quoted on another technology.
6The base material does not fit the technology; flexible and DenciTec boards use polyimide foil, rigid-flex uses high-Tg low-CTE FR4 with polyimide foil, and rigid and embedded die boards use FR4 or ultra-thin rigid material.
7Polyimide foil is available from 12.5 micrometers; the order has a thinner foil or none.
8A polyimide foil thickness is quoted for a technology that has no flex core.
9Multilayer flex constructions need an adhesive bond ply of 15 micrometers or more; the order has a thinner ply or none.
10Laser-drilled vias are made from 30 micrometers; 25 micrometers is quoted.
11Mechanically drilled vias start at 100 micrometers; 80 micrometers is quoted.
12Via-in-pad needs a planar plated finish; OSP is not offered with it.
13DenciTec boards have 20 plus or minus 5 micrometers of copper on all layers; 26 micrometers is quoted.
14Copper thickness from 9 to 70 micrometers is offered on this technology; 105 micrometers is quoted.
15DenciTec annular rings are at least 30 micrometers on inner layers and 20 micrometers on outer layers.
16An embedded die board needs at least one embedded die per board, and the order has none.
172 embedded dies per board are quoted on a technology that does not embed components.
18A coverlay protects flex circuits; it is not used on rigid or embedded die boards.
19Castellations are made on boards with a rigid body, not on flex-only or DenciTec boards.
20Plated and non-plated cavities are made in boards with a rigid body, not in flex-only or DenciTec boards.
21Controlled impedance needs a reference plane, so at least 2 layers.
22A discount of 21 percent is above the 20 percent maximum.
23A discount of 10 percent is above the 5 percent that applies to this quantity; a person should approve it.
24Orders below 1,000 boards have no standard discount; a person should approve 3 percent.
25Orders of 100,000 or more boards are priced as a series contract; a person should confirm 100,000 boards.
26The order has 0 boards; at least 1 is needed.
27The quote states a total of $23,986.50; the priced lines give $23,987.50.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Wearable flex boards: Flex boards on FR4 with thin polyimide foil and 20 micrometer vias

    
The agent's request. Please quote 2,000 flexible PCB boards: 4 layers, small size, high-Tg low-CTE FR4 base, line width and spacing of 75 micrometers, laser-drilled blind vias of 20 micrometers, 18 micrometers of copper and ENIG finish, polyimide foil of 10 micrometers, adhesive bond ply of 15 micrometers, with coverlay. The quote applies a 5 percent discount. The quote states a total of $30,780.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Base material does not fit the technology. The base material does not fit the technology; flexible and DenciTec boards use polyimide foil, rigid-flex uses high-Tg low-CTE FR4 with polyimide foil, and rigid and embedded die boards use FR4 or ultra-thin rigid material.
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  • Polyimide foil too thin. Polyimide foil is available from 12.5 micrometers; the order has a thinner foil or none.
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  • Laser via diameter below 30 micrometers. Laser-drilled vias are made from 30 micrometers; 20 micrometers is quoted.
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2. Wearable flex boards: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 2,000 flexible PCB boards: 4 layers, small size, polyimide foil base, line width and spacing of 75 micrometers, laser-drilled blind vias of 30 micrometers, 18 micrometers of copper and ENIG finish, polyimide foil of 12.5 micrometers, adhesive bond ply of 15 micrometers, with coverlay. The quote applies a 5 percent discount. The quote states a total of $30,780.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 2,000 boards priced; list total $32,400, net total $30,780.00.
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3. Ultra-thin DenciTec circuits: DenciTec boards with out-of-range copper and small outer annular rings

    
The agent's request. Please quote 3,000 DenciTec PCB boards: 4 layers, small size, polyimide foil base, line width and spacing of 25 micrometers, laser-drilled blind vias of 30 micrometers, 28 micrometers of copper and ENEPIG finish, polyimide foil of 12.5 micrometers, adhesive bond ply of 15 micrometers, annular rings of 30 micrometers inner and 15 micrometers outer. The quote applies a 5 percent discount. The quote states a total of $150,575.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • DenciTec copper outside 20 plus or minus 5. DenciTec boards have 20 plus or minus 5 micrometers of copper on all layers; 28 micrometers is quoted.
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  • DenciTec annular rings too small. DenciTec annular rings are at least 30 micrometers on inner layers and 20 micrometers on outer layers.
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  • Very fine lines need a design review. Line width and spacing of 25 micrometers is at the limit of the process, and a design for manufacturing review should confirm it.
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4. Ultra-thin DenciTec circuits: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 3,000 DenciTec PCB boards: 4 layers, small size, polyimide foil base, line width and spacing of 25 micrometers, laser-drilled blind vias of 30 micrometers, 20 micrometers of copper and ENEPIG finish, polyimide foil of 12.5 micrometers, adhesive bond ply of 15 micrometers, annular rings of 30 micrometers inner and 20 micrometers outer. The quote applies a 5 percent discount. The quote states a total of $150,575.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Very fine lines need a design review. Line width and spacing of 25 micrometers is at the limit of the process, and a design for manufacturing review should confirm it.
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  • Order summary. 3,000 boards priced; list total $158,500, net total $150,575.00.
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5. Ultra-thin DenciTec circuits: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 3,000 DenciTec PCB boards: 4 layers, small size, polyimide foil base, line width and spacing of 30 micrometers, laser-drilled blind vias of 30 micrometers, 20 micrometers of copper and ENEPIG finish, polyimide foil of 12.5 micrometers, adhesive bond ply of 15 micrometers, annular rings of 30 micrometers inner and 20 micrometers outer. The quote applies a 5 percent discount. The quote states a total of $150,575.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 3,000 boards priced; list total $158,500, net total $150,575.00.
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6. Rigid-flex avionics boards: Rigid-flex boards with via-in-pad on an OSP finish and a 15 percent discount

    
The agent's request. Please quote 6,000 rigid-flex PCB boards: 8 layers, medium size, high-Tg low-CTE FR4 base, line width and spacing of 75 micrometers, via-in-pad vias of 75 micrometers, 18 micrometers of copper and OSP finish, polyimide foil of 12.5 micrometers, adhesive bond ply of 15 micrometers, with coverlay. The quote applies a 15 percent discount. The quote states a total of $515,865.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Via-in-pad with an OSP finish. Via-in-pad needs a planar plated finish; OSP is not offered with it.
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  • Discount above the standard for this quantity. A discount of 15 percent is above the 10 percent that applies to this quantity; a person should approve it.
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7. Rigid-flex avionics boards: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 6,000 rigid-flex PCB boards: 8 layers, medium size, high-Tg low-CTE FR4 base, line width and spacing of 75 micrometers, via-in-pad vias of 75 micrometers, 18 micrometers of copper and ENEPIG finish, polyimide foil of 12.5 micrometers, adhesive bond ply of 15 micrometers, with coverlay. The quote applies a 15 percent discount. The quote states a total of $526,065.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Discount above the standard for this quantity. A discount of 15 percent is above the 10 percent that applies to this quantity; a person should approve it.
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  • Order summary. 6,000 boards priced; list total $618,900, net total $526,065.00.
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8. Rigid-flex avionics boards: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 6,000 rigid-flex PCB boards: 8 layers, medium size, high-Tg low-CTE FR4 base, line width and spacing of 75 micrometers, via-in-pad vias of 75 micrometers, 18 micrometers of copper and ENEPIG finish, polyimide foil of 12.5 micrometers, adhesive bond ply of 15 micrometers, with coverlay. The quote applies a 10 percent discount. The quote states a total of $557,010.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 6,000 boards priced; list total $618,900, net total $557,010.00.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares a quote for printed circuit boards: technology, layers, base material, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika's validator, which checks it against a declarative model of the capability limits and reports every problem it finds in one pass.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please quote 2,000 flexible PCB boards: 4 layers, small size, high-Tg low-CTE FR4 base, line width and spacing of 75 micrometers. The quote applies a 5 percent discount. The rest of the request is on screen. The quote states a total of $30,780.00.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with three findings, all in one answer. The base material does not fit the technology; flexible and DenciTec boards use polyimide foil, rigid-flex uses high-Tg low-CTE FR4 with polyimide foil, and rigid and embedded die boards use FR4 or ultra-thin rigid material. Polyimide foil is available from 12.5 micrometers; the order has a thinner foil or none. Laser-drilled vias are made from 30 micrometers; 20 micrometers is quoted.
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  6. The validator returned three blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
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  7. What this shows: for quantity discounts with a hard cap and an approval band, a rules-based CPQ is error-prone for this.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the base material to polyimide foil, the via diameter to 30 micrometers and the polyimide foil to 12.5.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. This time the validator clears it.
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  12. The validator also returns the line-item quote. It starts with Flexible PCB and Vias: laser-drilled blind; the other three lines are on screen.
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  13. All three earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's total, $30,780.00, matches the quote.
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  14. Three problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean $30,780.00 quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    15.