Predictika · Industrial 3D printing

An AI sales agent's SLA printer configuration, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a stereolithography printer configuration for a customer: a ProJet 6000 HD, ProJet 7000 HD, ProX 800 or ProX 950 in a build mode, with the part the customer wants to print, the material, the electrical supply and the room it stands in. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the figures 3D Systems publishes in its SLA data sheets and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: ProJet 6000 HD, ProJet 7000 HD, ProX 800 and ProX 950: build modes and volumes, part size and weight, material list, finest feature, electrical supply and room temperature. See everything this validator covers

This validator models one SLA printer configuration at a time, based on the figures in the public 3D Systems SLA data sheets, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Build modes and volumes — the ProJet 6000 HD and ProX 800 offer full, half and short modes, the ProJet 7000 HD offers full and short, and the ProX 950 offers full only. Each mode has its own build volume (for example 250 x 250 x 250 mm on the ProJet 6000 HD in full mode and 1,500 x 750 x 550 mm on the ProX 950). A part must fit the volume of the selected mode.
  • Part weight and finest feature — the maximum part weight (9,600 g, 21,600 g, 75,000 g and 150,000 g on the four printers) and the finest feature each printer scans (75 microns on the ProJet printers, 125 microns on the ProX printers). The part weight the quote states must equal the data sheet figure.
  • Electrical supply and room temperature — 100 to 240 VAC and 18 to 28 degrees Celsius on the ProJet printers; 200 to 240 VAC and 20 to 26 degrees Celsius on the ProX printers.
  • Materials — the Accura and other materials the data sheet lists for the ProJet and ProX families. The list is not exhaustive, so a material that is not on it goes to a person for approval instead of being blocked.

Any SLA configuration that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (3D Systems publishes no list prices, so this page shows no price build-up), accessories and post-processing equipment, print resolution and speed, volume of material used, other 3D Systems printer lines, and service terms. The data sheets read are the 2018 technical specifications and the 2021 brochure; where they disagree the conflicting item is left out of the model.

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

6 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
Build volumes that change with the printer and the modeOnly with care
Each printer has a different set of modes and each mode has its own volume, so the part check needs a table of printer and mode pairs and a rule for modes that do not exist.		The printer, the mode and the part size are compared together in one request, in any order.
Limits that differ by printer familyOnly with care
Weight, finest feature, voltage and room temperature each have a value per printer, so a rule has to be written for every combination or kept in a lookup that someone maintains.		Every limit comes from the model of the selected printer and is checked on every call.
A material list that is not completeOnly with workarounds
A product rule that hides materials the data sheet does not list would block a legitimate choice, and one that allows them all would let a wrong one through.		A material off the list goes to a person for approval and is never blocked outright.
A stated figure that must match the data sheetOnly with workarounds
A weight limit typed into the quote text is not linked to the printer, so a CPQ rarely notices when the two differ.		The stated figure is compared with the one the model computes.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the quote is saved or a step is completed, so a person 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 selected build mode is not offered on this printer; the ProJet 6000 HD and ProX 800 have full, half and short, the ProJet 7000 HD has full and short, and the ProX 950 has full only.
2The part of 651 x 600 x 400 mm does not fit the build volume of 650 x 750 x 550 mm.
3The part of 500 x 751 x 400 mm does not fit the build volume of 650 x 750 x 550 mm.
4The part of 500 x 600 x 276 mm does not fit the build volume of 650 x 750 x 275 mm.
5The part of 500 x 600 x 51 mm does not fit the build volume of 650 x 750 x 50 mm.
6The part of 251 x 200 x 200 mm does not fit the build volume of 250 x 250 x 250 mm.
7The part weighs 75,001 g; the printer allows up to 75,000 g.
8The part weighs 9601 g; the printer allows up to 9600 g.
9The part has features down to 74 microns; the printer scans fine features down to 75 microns.
10The part has features down to 100 microns; the printer scans fine features down to 125 microns.
11The supply of 120 VAC is outside the printer range of 200 to 240 VAC.
12The supply of 250 VAC is outside the printer range of 100 to 240 VAC.
13The room temperature of 27 degrees Celsius is outside the printer operating range of 20 to 26.
14The room temperature of 19 degrees Celsius is outside the printer operating range of 20 to 26.
15The selected Accura material is not in the data sheet list for this printer family; a person should confirm with 3D Systems that it builds on this printer.
16The selected additional material delivery module size is not offered on this printer; it matches the build modes the printer offers.
17The quote has 0 printers; at least 1 is needed.
18The quote states a maximum part weight of 100,000 g; the printer data sheet gives 75,000 g.
19The quote states a maximum part weight of 75,000 g; the printer data sheet gives 150,000 g.
20The part weighs 80,000 g; the printer allows up to 75,000 g.

  

  

    
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. Size, weight and feature limits: ProJet 7000 HD for an automotive prototype shop with an oversize part, a heavy part and a very fine feature

    
The agent's request. Please quote one ProJet 7000 HD in full mode, building in Accura25, for a part of 420 x 300 x 150 mm weighing 30,000 g with features down to 60 microns, on a 230 VAC supply in a room at 22 degrees Celsius. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Part does not fit the build volume. The part of 420 x 300 x 150 mm does not fit the build volume of 380 x 380 x 250 mm.
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  • Part heavier than the printer allows. The part weighs 30,000 g; the printer allows up to 21,600 g.
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  • Finest feature below the printer limit. The part has features down to 60 microns; the printer scans fine features down to 75 microns.
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2. Size, weight and feature limits: The printer changed to a ProX 800 in half mode

    
The agent's request. Please quote one ProX 800 in half mode, building in Accura25, for a part of 420 x 300 x 150 mm weighing 30,000 g with features down to 150 microns, on a 230 VAC supply in a room at 22 degrees Celsius. The quote states a maximum part weight of 75,000 g. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Build summary. The build mode gives a 650 x 750 x 275 mm build volume and takes parts up to 75,000 g.
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3. Electrical supply and room temperature: ProX 800 for a service bureau with a 120 VAC outlet and a warm room

    
The agent's request. Please quote one ProX 800 in short mode, building in Xtreme, for a part of 600 x 700 x 40 mm weighing 20,000 g with features down to 200 microns, on a 120 VAC supply in a room at 30 degrees Celsius. The quote states a maximum part weight of 75,000 g. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Supply voltage outside the printer range. The supply of 120 VAC is outside the printer range of 200 to 240 VAC.
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  • Room temperature outside the operating range. The room temperature of 30 degrees Celsius is outside the printer operating range of 20 to 26.
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4. Electrical supply and room temperature: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote one ProX 800 in short mode, building in Xtreme, for a part of 600 x 700 x 40 mm weighing 20,000 g with features down to 200 microns, on a 230 VAC supply in a room at 24 degrees Celsius. The quote states a maximum part weight of 75,000 g. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Build summary. The build mode gives a 650 x 750 x 50 mm build volume and takes parts up to 75,000 g.
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5. Materials and part weight: ProJet 6000 HD with a heavy part and a material not on its list

    
The agent's request. Please quote one ProJet 6000 HD in full mode, building in Bluestone, for a part of 240 x 240 x 240 mm weighing 12,000 g with features down to 100 microns, on a 120 VAC supply in a room at 22 degrees Celsius, with an additional material delivery module in short size. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Part heavier than the printer allows. The part weighs 12,000 g; the printer allows up to 9600 g.
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  • Material not listed for this printer family. The selected Accura material is not in the data sheet list for this printer family; a person should confirm with 3D Systems that it builds on this printer.
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6. Materials and part weight: The part lightened and the material changed to one on the ProJet list

    
The agent's request. Please quote one ProJet 6000 HD in full mode, building in ClearVue, for a part of 240 x 240 x 240 mm weighing 8,000 g with features down to 100 microns, on a 120 VAC supply in a room at 22 degrees Celsius, with an additional material delivery module in short size. The quote states a maximum part weight of 9,600 g. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Build summary. The build mode gives a 250 x 250 x 250 mm build volume and takes parts up to 9600 g.
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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 stereolithography printer configuration for a customer: a ProJet 6000 HD, ProJet 7000 HD, ProX 800 or ProX 950 in a build mode. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the figures 3D Systems publishes in its SLA data sheets and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
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  3. The agent says. Please quote one ProJet 7000 HD in full mode, building in Accura25, for a part of 420 x 300 x 150 mm weighing 30,000 g. It is ready to send. The rest of the request is on screen.
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  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with three findings, all in one answer. The part of 420 x 300 x 150 mm does not fit the build volume of 380 x 380 x 250 mm. The part weighs 30,000 g; the printer allows up to 21,600 g. The part has features down to 60 microns; the printer scans fine features down to 75 microns.
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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 build volumes that change with the printer and the mode, 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 printer to ProX 800, the build mode to half and the finest feature to 150 microns. It sets the stated maximum part weight as to 75,000.
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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. All three earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
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  13. Three problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, 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.
    14.