Predictika · Gas springs for flaps, hatches and covers
An AI sales agent prepares a quote for Stabilus LIFT-O-MAT HD gas springs for a fictional equipment maker's hatches, guard doors and lids: spring size and stroke, extension force, rod-end and tube-end fittings, tube option, mounting bracket, the spring count for the flaps, the installation space and the service temperature. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the tables and design notes in the public Stabilus catalog and returns a verdict, every reason, and the figures it computed.
This validator models the supplementary line of the LIFT-O-MAT HD gas spring as described in the Stabilus Standard Program catalog, not just the scenarios shown below.
Any LIFT-O-MAT HD supplementary-line quote that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (Stabilus publishes no price list for this line), the other Stabilus product lines (standard-program springs of other types, dampers, locking springs, electric drives), the remaining brackets and ball studs, the overall length with fittings, and special designs. The compressed-position force uses the approximate spring rate from the catalog (about 1.35, 1.4 and 1.5 times the extension force for the three sizes), so it is an estimate, not a catalog value.
7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch
Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.
Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)
Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run
What this means
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 caught | Typical rules-based CPQ | Predictika |
|---|---|---|
| A reference number and stroke that must match a table row, with a different force range for each size | Only with care Each size has its own list of Ref.-Nos., strokes and lengths; it becomes a long lookup or a long list of product rules, and a catalog revision means editing many of them. | Size, stroke, force and reference number travel in one request and are checked against the tables together. |
| A needed force worked out from weight, two lever arms, springs per flap and a reserve factor | Only with workarounds The needed force is a calculation, which a rules-based CPQ usually handles with a custom formula or code before it can compare it with the force chosen. | The needed force is computed on every call and compared with the force on the quote, together with the bracket rating and the spring count. |
| A usable stroke that depends on the tube option and the installation space | Only with care The tube option shortens the stroke by an amount that differs by size, and the space gives the stroke the flap needs; each needs its own rule and they are easy to miss when a size or option is added. | The tube option, the stroke it leaves and the space are all in one request and are checked with the rest. |
| Every problem returned in one answer | Only 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. |
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.
| 1 | A force of 210 N is not offered for this series; the supplementary line gives F1 from 100 to 900 N in steps of 25 N. |
| 2 | A force of 75 N is not offered for this series; the supplementary line gives F1 from 100 to 900 N in steps of 25 N. |
| 3 | The flap needs an extension force of at least 197 N (weight, lever arms, number of springs and reserve factor); the quote has 75 N. |
| 4 | A force of 925 N is not offered for this series; the supplementary line gives F1 from 100 to 900 N in steps of 25 N. |
| 5 | A force of 175 N is not offered for this series; the supplementary line gives F1 from 150 to 1000 N in steps of 50 N. |
| 6 | A force of 1550 N is not offered for this series; the supplementary line gives F1 from 300 to 2300 N in steps of 100 N. |
| 7 | A stroke of 110 mm is not one of the strokes listed for this series in the supplementary line. |
| 8 | A stroke of 450 mm is not one of the strokes listed for this series in the supplementary line. |
| 9 | The 14-28 size offers rod-end fittings K1, K2 and K3 only. |
| 10 | The 14-28 size offers tube-end fittings D1, D2 and D3 only. |
| 11 | The 25 mm locking tube (S2) is listed for the 8-19 and 10-22 sizes only, not for the 14-28. |
| 12 | The catalog gives the 10 mm stroke reduction of the protection tube for the 8-19 and 10-22 sizes but not for the 14-28; a person should confirm it with Stabilus. |
| 13 | The application needs a stroke of at least 100 mm (extended length minus compressed length); the selected spring gives 90 mm after the tube option. |
| 14 | The application needs a stroke of at least 150 mm (extended length minus compressed length); the selected spring gives 100 mm after the tube option. |
| 15 | The extended length of 155 mm is not longer than the compressed length of 155 mm, so the application gives no stroke. |
| 16 | The flap needs an extension force of at least 197 N (weight, lever arms, number of springs and reserve factor); the quote has 175 N. |
| 17 | The design notes give a reserve force factor of 1.2 to 1.3; the quote uses 110 percent. |
| 18 | The flap weight, both lever arms, the number of springs per flap and the number of flaps must all be positive. |
| 19 | The flap needs an extension force of at least 49050 N (weight, lever arms, number of springs and reserve factor); the quote has 200 N. |
| 20 | The selected bracket does not fit the rod-end fitting (ball brackets take a 10 mm ball socket; the pin bracket takes eyes up to 10 mm wide). |
| 21 | With 300 N of extension force the spring pushes about 405 N in the compressed position; the selected bracket is rated 350 N. |
| 22 | With 375 N of extension force the spring pushes about 507 N in the compressed position; the selected bracket is rated 500 N. |
| 23 | Gas springs must not jam or take bending or lateral forces; the application puts a side load on the spring. |
| 24 | The lowest service temperature 60 C is not below the highest -10 C. |
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.
The agent's request. Please quote a LIFT-O-MAT HD 8-19 gas spring, Ref.-No. 697656, stroke 100 mm, extension force 150 N, rod-end fitting K1, tube-end fitting D1, no tube option and bracket 8262WE. It carries a 20 kg flap with a 400 mm weight arm and a 250 mm spring arm, 2 springs per flap on 6 flaps, so 10 springs in total, with a reserve factor of 125 percent. The space is 255 mm extended and 155 mm compressed, the service range is -10 to 60 C, and the spring is mounted rod down. It is ready to send.
Verdict: Blocked.
The agent's request. I have changed the extension force to 200 N, the rod-end fitting to K4, the spring total to 12 and the reference number to 697605. Please quote a LIFT-O-MAT HD 8-19 gas spring, Ref.-No. 697605, stroke 100 mm, extension force 200 N, rod-end fitting K4, tube-end fitting D1, no tube option and bracket 8262WE. It carries a 20 kg flap with a 400 mm weight arm and a 250 mm spring arm, 2 springs per flap on 6 flaps, so 12 springs in total, with a reserve factor of 125 percent. The space is 255 mm extended and 155 mm compressed, the service range is -10 to 60 C, and the spring is mounted rod down. It is ready to send.
Verdict: Allowed.
The agent's request. Please quote a LIFT-O-MAT HD 10-22 gas spring, Ref.-No. 555843, stroke 200 mm, extension force 400 N, rod-end fitting K2, tube-end fitting D2, the S2 locking tube and no bracket. It carries a 40 kg flap with a 500 mm weight arm and a 300 mm spring arm, 2 springs per flap on 4 flaps, so 8 springs in total, with a reserve factor of 125 percent. The space is 456 mm extended and 256 mm compressed, the service range is -10 to 60 C, and the spring is mounted rod up. It is ready to send.
Verdict: Blocked.
The agent's request. I have changed the extension force to 450 N and the tube option to none. Please quote a LIFT-O-MAT HD 10-22 gas spring, Ref.-No. 555843, stroke 200 mm, extension force 450 N, rod-end fitting K2, tube-end fitting D2, no tube option and no bracket. It carries a 40 kg flap with a 500 mm weight arm and a 300 mm spring arm, 2 springs per flap on 4 flaps, so 8 springs in total, with a reserve factor of 125 percent. The space is 456 mm extended and 256 mm compressed, the service range is -10 to 60 C, and the spring is mounted rod up. It is ready to send.
Verdict: Needs approval.
The agent's request. I have changed the mounting to rod down. Please quote a LIFT-O-MAT HD 10-22 gas spring, Ref.-No. 555843, stroke 200 mm, extension force 450 N, rod-end fitting K2, tube-end fitting D2, no tube option and no bracket. It carries a 40 kg flap with a 500 mm weight arm and a 300 mm spring arm, 2 springs per flap on 4 flaps, so 8 springs in total, with a reserve factor of 125 percent. The space is 456 mm extended and 256 mm compressed, the service range is -10 to 60 C, and the spring is mounted rod down. It is ready to send.
Verdict: Allowed.
The agent's request. Please quote a LIFT-O-MAT HD 14-28 gas spring, Ref.-No. 2386SC, stroke 300 mm, extension force 1550 N, rod-end fitting K6, tube-end fitting D2, the S2 locking tube and no bracket. It carries a 90 kg flap with a 600 mm weight arm and a 350 mm spring arm, 2 springs per flap on 3 flaps, so 6 springs in total, with a reserve factor of 125 percent. The space is 670 mm extended and 370 mm compressed, the service range is -10 to 60 C, and the spring is mounted rod down. It is ready to send.
Verdict: Blocked.
The agent's request. I have changed the extension force to 1500 N, the rod-end fitting to K2 and the tube option to none. Please quote a LIFT-O-MAT HD 14-28 gas spring, Ref.-No. 2386SC, stroke 300 mm, extension force 1500 N, rod-end fitting K2, tube-end fitting D2, no tube option and no bracket. It carries a 90 kg flap with a 600 mm weight arm and a 350 mm spring arm, 2 springs per flap on 3 flaps, so 6 springs in total, with a reserve factor of 125 percent. The space is 670 mm extended and 370 mm compressed, the service range is -10 to 60 C, and the spring is mounted rod down. It is ready to send.
Verdict: Allowed.
The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.