Predictika · Machining centre configuration orders

An AI sales agent's horizontal machining centre order, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares an order for a 4-axis horizontal machining centre with its machining unit, control, clamping surface, tool magazine and the workpiece and tools it must handle. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the configuration rules and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: HELLER H series 4-axis machining centres, H 2000 to H 16000: machining units, controls, clamping surfaces, tool magazines, workpiece and tool limits. See everything this validator covers

This validator models orders for the eight HELLER H series 4-axis horizontal machining centres (H 2000, H 4000, H 5000, H 6000, H 8000, H 10000, H 14000 and H 16000), not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Machining units — the HSK-A 63 units (PC 63 i, DC 63 i, SC 63 i, SC 63 M) on the H 2000 and H 4000, the HSK-A 100 gear and INLINE units on the H 5000 to H 10000, the HSK-A 63 INLINE units also on the H 8000 and H 10000, and the five HSK-A 100 units on the H 14000 and H 16000.
  • Control and clamping surface — SINUMERIK ONE or Fanuc 31iB-Plus on the H 2000 to H 10000, SINUMERIK 840D sl or Fanuc 31iB-Plus on the H 14000, SINUMERIK 840D sl only on the H 16000; the standard clamping surface of each model (the H 8000 also with 1,000 x 1,000 mm).
  • Tool magazines — the standard chain magazine and the optional chain (80, 160, 240 or 100, 150 places) and rack magazines (324, 498 or 200, 260, 265, 340, 425 places) that each model and tool shank takes; the quote's stated tool places are compared with what the magazine holds.
  • Workpiece and tool limits — workpiece diameter, height and clamping weight per model (with the optional higher clamping weights the brochure lists, for example on the H 2000, H 4000, H 8000 and H 10000), and tool weight, length and diameter per model, shank and magazine, with the optional larger values flagged for a person to confirm.

Any H series order that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (none are public, so this validator produces no price build-up or line-item quote), the fork-type pallet changer surfaces (400 x 500 and 500 x 630 mm), the other HELLER machine series, automation, coolant, chip disposal and software options, and regional or export terms.

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

7 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
A machining unit that is offered on some models and not othersOnly with care
A product rule per model and unit. It works, but the HSK-A 63 and HSK-A 100 units overlap on the H 8000 and H 10000 and each new model repeats the set.		The model and the unit are in one request and every pairing is checked together.
A tool magazine that depends on both the model and the tool shankOnly with workarounds
The 324 and 498 racks go with HSK-A 63 units and the 200 to 425 racks with HSK-A 100 units, and which sizes exist depends on the model; that needs a lookup that combines three choices.		The model, unit and magazine are checked together on every call, and the places the magazine holds are computed.
Limits that change with an optional value (550 or 650 kg on the H 2000, 4,000 or 5,000 kg on the H 10000)Only with care
A standard limit and an optional limit each need to be written and kept in step; the optional range is easy to treat as a plain block.		The standard limit and the optional limit are computed on every call; the optional range comes back as a request for approval.
Tool weight, length and diameter limits that depend on the model, shank and magazineOnly with workarounds
Each of the three limits varies with a different mix of choices, so each needs its own lookup and comparison with the tool on the order.		All three limits are computed from the choices on every call and compared with the tools on the order.
Stated tool places that must match the magazineOnly with care
A stated figure is a free-entry field; a rule can compare it with a computed total, but someone has to write and maintain that comparison.		The stated figure travels with the order and is compared with the computed capacity on every call.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the order 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.

    
1The machining unit on the quote is not listed for this H series model; H 2000 and H 4000 take the HSK-A 63 units, H 5000 and H 6000 the HSK-A 100 units, H 8000 and H 10000 both, and H 14000 and H 16000 five HSK-A 100 units.
2The control on the quote is not listed for this model; H 2000 to H 10000 take SINUMERIK ONE or Fanuc 31iB-Plus, H 14000 takes SINUMERIK 840D sl or Fanuc 31iB-Plus and H 16000 takes SINUMERIK 840D sl only.
3The clamping surface on the quote is not listed for this model.
4The tool magazine on the quote is not listed for this model and tool shank; the 324 and 498 racks go with HSK-A 63 units and the 200 to 425 racks with HSK-A 100 units.
5The workpiece weighs 650 kg; the standard clamping weight is 550 kg and the brochure lists a higher value as an option, so a person should confirm it.
655 tools are needed, but the tool magazine on the quote holds 54.
7The quote states 80 tool places, but the magazine on it holds 54.
8The quote states 54 tool places, but the magazine on it holds 50.
9The heaviest tool weighs 13 kg; the most this machining unit can handle is 12 kg.
10The heaviest tool weighs 30 kg; the standard limit is 25 kg and the brochure lists a higher value as an option, so a person should confirm it.
11The heaviest tool weighs 36 kg; the most this machining unit can handle is 35 kg.
12The heaviest tool weighs 16 kg; the most this machining unit can handle is 15 kg.
13The longest tool is 451 mm; the most this model and magazine take is 450 mm.
14The longest tool is 411 mm; the most this model and magazine take is 410 mm.
15The longest tool is 700 mm; the standard limit is 600 mm and the brochure lists a longer tool as an option, so a person should confirm it.
16The longest tool is 700 mm; the most this model and magazine take is 600 mm.
17The longest tool is 900 mm; the most this model and magazine take is 800 mm.
18The longest tool is 900 mm; the standard limit is 600 mm and the brochure lists a longer tool as an option, so a person should confirm it.
19The widest tool is 161 mm across; the most this model and magazine take is 160 mm, with free adjacent places.
20The widest tool is 300 mm across; the most this model and magazine take is 280 mm, with free adjacent places.
21The widest tool is 320 mm across; the standard limit is 280 mm and the brochure lists a larger diameter as an option, so a person should confirm it.
22The widest tool is 320 mm across; the most this model and magazine take is 280 mm, with free adjacent places.
23The widest tool is 190 mm across; the most this model and magazine take is 188 mm, with free adjacent places.
24The workpiece is 901 mm across; this model takes at most 900 mm.
25The workpiece is 1,001 mm high; this model takes at most 1,000 mm.
26The workpiece weighs 8,001 kg; the most this model carries in the quoted configuration is 8,000 kg.
27The workpiece weighs 600 kg; the standard clamping weight is 550 kg and the brochure lists a higher value as an option, so a person should confirm it.
28The workpiece weighs 800 kg; the standard clamping weight is 750 kg and the brochure lists a higher value as an option, so a person should confirm it.
29The workpiece weighs 2,500 kg; the standard clamping weight is 2,000 kg and the brochure lists a higher value as an option, so a person should confirm it.
30The workpiece weighs 3,100 kg; the most this model carries in the quoted configuration is 3,000 kg.
31The workpiece weighs 4,500 kg; the standard clamping weight is 4,000 kg and the brochure lists a higher value as an option, so a person should confirm it.
32The workpiece weighs 1,500 kg; the most this model carries in the quoted configuration is 1,400 kg.

  

  

    
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. HSK-A 100 cell on an H 6000: An H 6000 order with an HSK-A 63 unit and a 324-place rack

    
The agent's request. Please quote a HELLER H 6000 with the PC 63 i unit (HSK-A 63), the Siemens SINUMERIK ONE control, a 630 x 630 mm clamping surface and a 324-place rack magazine. The workpiece is 950 mm across, 1,100 mm high and weighs 1,300 kg. The job needs 280 tools; the heaviest weighs 14 kg, the widest is 250 mm across and the longest is 550 mm. The quote states 324 tool places. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Machining unit not offered on this model. The machining unit on the quote is not listed for this H series model; H 2000 and H 4000 take the HSK-A 63 units, H 5000 and H 6000 the HSK-A 100 units, H 8000 and H 10000 both, and H 14000 and H 16000 five HSK-A 100 units.
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  • Tool magazine not offered on this model or tool shank. The tool magazine on the quote is not listed for this model and tool shank; the 324 and 498 racks go with HSK-A 63 units and the 200 to 425 racks with HSK-A 100 units.
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2. HSK-A 100 cell on an H 6000: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a HELLER H 6000 with the PC 100 G gear unit (HSK-A 100), the Siemens SINUMERIK ONE control, a 630 x 630 mm clamping surface and a 340-place rack magazine. The workpiece is 950 mm across, 1,100 mm high and weighs 1,300 kg. The job needs 280 tools; the heaviest weighs 20 kg, the widest is 250 mm across and the longest is 550 mm. The quote states 340 tool places. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. The magazine holds 340 tools; the model carries a workpiece of up to 1,400 kg in this configuration; the largest workpiece is 1,000 mm across.
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3. Heavy parts on an H 10000: An H 10000 order with a 5,200 kg part and a 900 mm tool

    
The agent's request. Please quote a HELLER H 10000 with the PC 100 G gear unit (HSK-A 100), the Siemens SINUMERIK ONE control, a 1,000 x 1,000 mm clamping surface and a 150-place chain magazine. The workpiece is 1,500 mm across, 1,600 mm high and weighs 5,200 kg. The job needs 120 tools; the heaviest weighs 20 kg, the widest is 250 mm across and the longest is 900 mm. The quote states 150 tool places. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Tool too long. The longest tool is 900 mm; the most this model and magazine take is 800 mm.
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  • Workpiece heavier than the clamping weight. The workpiece weighs 5,200 kg; the most this model carries in the quoted configuration is 5,000 kg.
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4. Heavy parts on an H 10000: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a HELLER H 10000 with the PC 100 G gear unit (HSK-A 100), the Siemens SINUMERIK ONE control, a 1,000 x 1,000 mm clamping surface and a 150-place chain magazine. The workpiece is 1,500 mm across, 1,600 mm high and weighs 4,800 kg. The job needs 120 tools; the heaviest weighs 20 kg, the widest is 250 mm across and the longest is 700 mm. The quote states 150 tool places. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Tool length needs the optional longer tool. The longest tool is 700 mm; the standard limit is 600 mm and the brochure lists a longer tool as an option, so a person should confirm it.
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  • Workpiece weight needs the optional higher clamping weight. The workpiece weighs 4,800 kg; the standard clamping weight is 4,000 kg and the brochure lists a higher value as an option, so a person should confirm it.
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  • Order summary. The magazine holds 150 tools; the model carries a workpiece of up to 4,000 kg in this configuration; the largest workpiece is 1,600 mm across.
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5. Heavy parts on an H 10000: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a HELLER H 10000 with the PC 100 G gear unit (HSK-A 100), the Siemens SINUMERIK ONE control, a 1,000 x 1,000 mm clamping surface and a 150-place chain magazine. The workpiece is 1,500 mm across, 1,600 mm high and weighs 3,900 kg. The job needs 120 tools; the heaviest weighs 20 kg, the widest is 250 mm across and the longest is 600 mm. The quote states 150 tool places. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. The magazine holds 150 tools; the model carries a workpiece of up to 4,000 kg in this configuration; the largest workpiece is 1,600 mm across.
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6. Large part on an H 16000: An H 16000 order with Fanuc control and an 8,200 kg part

    
The agent's request. Please quote a HELLER H 16000 with the EEC 100 i unit (HSK-A 100), the Fanuc 31iB-Plus control, a 1,250 x 1,600 mm clamping surface and a 425-place rack magazine. The workpiece is 1,900 mm across, 1,700 mm high and weighs 8,200 kg. The job needs 380 tools; the heaviest weighs 20 kg, the widest is 250 mm across and the longest is 550 mm. The quote states 425 tool places. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Control not offered on this model. The control on the quote is not listed for this model; H 2000 to H 10000 take SINUMERIK ONE or Fanuc 31iB-Plus, H 14000 takes SINUMERIK 840D sl or Fanuc 31iB-Plus and H 16000 takes SINUMERIK 840D sl only.
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  • Workpiece heavier than the clamping weight. The workpiece weighs 8,200 kg; the most this model carries in the quoted configuration is 8,000 kg.
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7. Large part on an H 16000: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a HELLER H 16000 with the EEC 100 i unit (HSK-A 100), the Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl control, a 1,250 x 1,600 mm clamping surface and a 425-place rack magazine. The workpiece is 1,900 mm across, 1,700 mm high and weighs 7,800 kg. The job needs 380 tools; the heaviest weighs 20 kg, the widest is 250 mm across and the longest is 550 mm. The quote states 425 tool places. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. The magazine holds 425 tools; the model carries a workpiece of up to 8,000 kg in this configuration; the largest workpiece is 2,000 mm across.
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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 an order for a 4-axis horizontal machining centre with its machining unit, control, clamping surface, tool magazine and the workpiece and tools it must handle. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the configuration rules and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please quote a HELLER H 10000 with the PC 100 G gear unit (HSK-A 100), the Siemens SINUMERIK ONE control. The workpiece is 1,500 mm across, 1,600 mm high and weighs 5,200 kg. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
    5. 
      
  5. Blocked, with two findings, all in one answer. The longest tool is 900 mm; the most this model and magazine take is 800 mm. The workpiece weighs 5,200 kg; the most this model carries in the quoted configuration is 5,000 kg.
    6. 
      
  6. The validator returned two 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.
    7. 
      
  7. What this shows: for tool weight, length and diameter limits that depend on the model, shank and magazine, a rules-based CPQ can do this only with workarounds.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the workpiece weight to 4,800 kg and the longest tool to 700 mm.
    10. 
      
  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. Not blocked, but held for a person.
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  12. The two blocking findings are cleared; two approvals remain for a person: tool length needs the optional longer tool and workpiece weight needs the optional higher clamping weight.
    13. 
      
  13. The agent resubmits once more.
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  14. The revised request. It changes the workpiece weight to 3,900 kg and the longest tool to 600 mm.
    15. 
      
  15. It calls the validator once more.
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  16. This time the validator clears it.
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  17. Both earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
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  18. Two problems caught in one call, fixed in two passes, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    19.