Predictika · Custom manufacturing: CNC milling and turning orders
An AI sales agent prepares a custom CNC machining order: milled or turned parts, the material, the tolerance and surface the customer needs, the smallest feature and the delivery time. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published CNC machining capabilities and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
This validator models CNC machining orders for milled and turned parts using Xometry's published CNC machining capabilities, not just the scenarios shown below.
Any milled or turned part order in these areas is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (Xometry computes instant-quote prices per part and no public price list was found, so this validator produces no price build-up or line-item quote), finishes and which materials they suit, other processes (sheet metal, 3D printing, injection molding), inspection options, certifications, shipping and regional terms.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard tolerance that depends on the material | Only with care The tolerance a part is held to differs for metals and plastics, so the order needs a material-class rule and a check of any figure the rep states. | The material and the stated tolerance arrive together; the standard tolerance for the material class is computed and compared on every call. |
| Size limits that depend on the process | Only with workarounds Milled parts are limited on three axes and turned parts on length and diameter, so the limits depend on the process chosen and larger parts must route to review rather than fail. | The process and the dimensions arrive together; the right envelope is applied and an oversize part goes to a person. |
| Tolerances and surfaces that need manual review | Only with care Automatic quoting stops at plus or minus 0.001 inch and 16 microinches Ra; a rule can flag anything beyond, but each threshold needs its own rule and its own approval route. | Each threshold is a finding that asks for approval, listed together with any block. |
| A minimum lead time | Easy A minimum is a simple validation rule. | The lead time is checked together with every other rule on each call. |
| Every problem returned in one answer | Only 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. |
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 | The part is larger than the standard envelope (milled parts up to 80 x 48 x 24 inches, lathe parts up to 62 inches long and 32 inches in diameter); larger parts are reviewed case by case. |
| 2 | Every part dimension needs a size of at least 1 inch; the quote has 40, 20 and 0 inches along the three axes. |
| 3 | Every part dimension needs a size of at least 1 inch; the quote has 40, 0 and 10 inches along the three axes. |
| 4 | The quote has 0 parts; at least 1 is needed. |
| 5 | The quote promises delivery in 2 business days; CNC machining lead time starts at three business days. |
| 6 | A tolerance of 0.0009 inches is tighter than plus or minus 0.001 inch; tolerances below that are available after manual review. |
| 7 | The quote asks for a tolerance of 0.0 inches; it must be greater than zero. |
| 8 | A surface roughness of 15 microinches Ra is finer than the 16 microinch minimum quoted automatically; finer finishes are reviewed manually. |
| 9 | The smallest feature is 0.019 inches; the recommended minimum is 0.020 inch and smaller features depend on geometry and material, so a person should review them. |
| 10 | A material outside the standard list is available only through manual review. |
| 11 | The quote states a standard tolerance of plus or minus 10 thousandths of an inch; the material class gives plus or minus 5 thousandths. |
| 12 | The quote states a standard tolerance of plus or minus 5 thousandths of an inch; the material class gives plus or minus 10 thousandths. |
| 13 | A tolerance of 0.0005 inches is tighter than plus or minus 0.001 inch; tolerances below that are available after manual review. |
| 14 | A surface roughness of 8 microinches Ra is finer than the 16 microinch minimum quoted automatically; finer finishes are reviewed manually. |
| 15 | The quote promises delivery in 1 business days; CNC machining lead time starts at three business days. |
| 16 | The smallest feature is 0.01 inches; the recommended minimum is 0.020 inch and smaller features depend on geometry and material, so a person should review them. |
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 25 milled parts of 60 x 40 x 20 inches in 6061 aluminum, held to plus or minus 0.005 inch, with a standard tolerance of plus or minus 10 thousandths of an inch stated on the quote, delivered in 2 business days. The order is ready to send.
Verdict: Blocked.
The agent's request. Please quote 25 milled parts of 60 x 40 x 20 inches in 6061 aluminum, held to plus or minus 0.005 inch, with a standard tolerance of plus or minus 5 thousandths of an inch stated on the quote, delivered in 5 business days. The order is ready to send.
Verdict: Allowed.
The agent's request. Please quote 100 turned parts 50 inches long and 6 inches in diameter in Delrin, held to plus or minus 0.01 inch, with a standard tolerance of plus or minus 5 thousandths of an inch stated on the quote, delivered in 2 business days. The order is ready to send.
Verdict: Blocked.
The agent's request. Please quote 100 turned parts 50 inches long and 6 inches in diameter in Delrin, held to plus or minus 0.01 inch, with a standard tolerance of plus or minus 10 thousandths of an inch stated on the quote, delivered in 4 business days. The order is ready to send.
Verdict: Allowed.
The agent's request. Please quote 4 milled parts of 90 x 40 x 20 inches in Grade 5 titanium, held to plus or minus 0.0005 inch, with a standard tolerance of plus or minus 5 thousandths of an inch stated on the quote, delivered in 2 business days. The order is ready to send.
Verdict: Blocked.
The agent's request. Please quote 4 milled parts of 90 x 40 x 20 inches in Grade 5 titanium, held to plus or minus 0.0005 inch, with a standard tolerance of plus or minus 5 thousandths of an inch stated on the quote, delivered in 6 business days. The order is ready to send.
Verdict: Needs approval.
The agent's request. Please quote 4 milled parts of 78 x 40 x 20 inches in Grade 5 titanium, held to plus or minus 0.001 inch, with a standard tolerance of plus or minus 5 thousandths of an inch stated on the quote, delivered in 6 business days. The order is ready to send.
Verdict: Allowed.
The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.