Predictika · Industrial metrology

An AI sales agent's CONTURA coordinate measuring machine, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent configures a ZEISS CONTURA bridge-type measuring machine for a manufacturer: the size, the sensors, how the sensors are mounted, the loading system and the options. Before it goes out, the agent sends the configuration to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the compatibility ZEISS publishes and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: ZEISS CONTURA bridge-type measuring machines: size, sensors, RDS probe holder, optical fiber interface and loading systems, as ZEISS publishes them. See everything this validator covers

This validator models the configuration of one ZEISS CONTURA machine at a time, based on the public CONTURA brochure and the ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions portfolio, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Size — one of the six sizes the CONTURA brochure lists (7/7/6, 7/10/6, 9/12/8, 9/18/8, 12/18/8 and 12/24/8).
  • Sensors — the twelve sensors the portfolio describes: VAST gold, VAST XT gold, VAST XTR gold, VAST XXT compact design, VAST XXT, XDT, RST-P, EagleEye, LineScan, LineScan One, DotScan and ROTOS. The portfolio lists VAST gold, RST-P, EagleEye and ROTOS for other machines, not for CONTURA, and the validator blocks them.
  • Probe holder and interface — VAST XTR gold, VAST XXT compact design, XDT and DotScan are listed for CONTURA on an RDS probe holder; VAST XXT is listed for either an RDS holder or a fixed installation; DotScan also needs an optical fiber interface.
  • Loading systems — manual loading systems, ShuttleLoad and MultiLoad are listed for CONTURA, DuplexSystem is listed only for DuraMax, and MultiLoad loads up to four CMMs at once and has 16 pallet storage locations. HTG, rotary table, ProMax E and ThermoStation can be added as options.

Any CONTURA configuration that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (ZEISS publishes none, so this page shows no price build-up), other ZEISS machines, software, service contracts, accuracy and measuring range for a given size and sensor, and anything the two documents do not state.

The AI sales agentBuilds the CONTURA 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.

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
Sensors and loading systems that ZEISS lists only for other machinesOnly with care
Twelve sensors and several loading systems each have their own list of compatible machines; a rules-based CPQ needs that matrix kept up to date by hand, or one product rule per sensor.		The compatibility lists are rules in one model and are checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive.
A sensor that also needs an RDS probe holder, and DotScan needing an optical fiber interface as wellOnly with care
A choice in one place (the mount) decides whether a sensor chosen somewhere else is allowed, and DotScan depends on two other choices at once.		The mount, the interface and every selected sensor are compared together.
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 ZEISS portfolio lists the VAST gold sensor only for the PRISMO, XENOS and MMZ machines, not for CONTURA.
2The ZEISS portfolio lists the RST-P sensor only for the CALENO machine, not for CONTURA.
3The ZEISS portfolio lists the EagleEye sensor only for the CALENO machine, not for CONTURA.
4The ZEISS portfolio lists the ROTOS roughness sensor only for the PRISMO machine, not for CONTURA.
5The VAST XTR gold sensor is listed for CONTURA only on an RDS probe holder, but the quote has a fixed mount.
6The VAST XXT compact design sensor is listed for CONTURA only on an RDS probe holder, but the quote has a fixed mount.
7The XDT sensor is listed for CONTURA only on an RDS probe holder, but the quote has a fixed mount.
8The DotScan sensor is listed for CONTURA with an RDS probe holder and an optical fiber interface, and the quote has no optical fiber interface.
9The DotScan sensor is listed for CONTURA only on an RDS probe holder, but the quote has a fixed mount.
10The ZEISS portfolio lists the DuplexSystem loading system only for the DuraMax machine, not for CONTURA.
11MultiLoad loads up to four CMMs at once, and the quote puts 5 CMMs on it.
12MultiLoad has 16 pallet storage locations, and the quote needs 17 pallets.
13MultiLoad has 16 pallet storage locations, and the quote needs 20 pallets.

  

  

    
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. Sensors listed for other ZEISS machines: A CONTURA 9/18/8 with the VAST gold and LineScan One sensors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a ZEISS CONTURA 9/18/8 with VAST gold and LineScan One, mounted on an RDS probe holder. It should have no loading system, with the HTG option and ProMax E. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • VAST gold is not listed for CONTURA. The ZEISS portfolio lists the VAST gold sensor only for the PRISMO, XENOS and MMZ machines, not for CONTURA.
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2. Sensors listed for other ZEISS machines: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a ZEISS CONTURA 9/18/8 with VAST XT gold and LineScan One, mounted on an RDS probe holder. It should have no loading system, with the HTG option and ProMax E. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Configuration summary. 2 sensor type(s) and 2 option(s) are on this CONTURA configuration.
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3. Sensors that need the RDS probe holder: A CONTURA 12/18/8 with XXT compact, XDT and DotScan on a fixed mount

    
The agent's request. Please quote a ZEISS CONTURA 12/18/8 with VAST XXT compact design, XDT and DotScan, mounted on a fixed mount. It should have ShuttleLoad, with a rotary table and ThermoStation. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • VAST XXT compact needs the RDS holder. The VAST XXT compact design sensor is listed for CONTURA only on an RDS probe holder, but the quote has a fixed mount.
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  • XDT needs the RDS holder. The XDT sensor is listed for CONTURA only on an RDS probe holder, but the quote has a fixed mount.
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  • DotScan needs the RDS holder. The DotScan sensor is listed for CONTURA only on an RDS probe holder, but the quote has a fixed mount.
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  • DotScan needs the optical fiber interface. The DotScan sensor is listed for CONTURA with an RDS probe holder and an optical fiber interface, and the quote has no optical fiber interface.
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4. Sensors that need the RDS probe holder: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a ZEISS CONTURA 12/18/8 with VAST XXT compact design, XDT and DotScan, mounted on an RDS probe holder. It should have ShuttleLoad, with a rotary table and ThermoStation. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • DotScan needs the optical fiber interface. The DotScan sensor is listed for CONTURA with an RDS probe holder and an optical fiber interface, and the quote has no optical fiber interface.
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5. Sensors that need the RDS probe holder: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a ZEISS CONTURA 12/18/8 with VAST XXT compact design, XDT and DotScan, mounted on an RDS probe holder and with an optical fiber interface. It should have ShuttleLoad, with a rotary table and ThermoStation. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Configuration summary. 3 sensor type(s) and 3 option(s) are on this CONTURA configuration.
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6. Loading system capacity: A CONTURA 12/24/8 with MultiLoad for five CMMs

    
The agent's request. Please quote a ZEISS CONTURA 12/24/8 with VAST XT gold and LineScan, mounted on an RDS probe holder. It should have MultiLoad, serving 5 CMMs and needing 20 pallet locations, with the HTG option and ThermoStation. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • MultiLoad serves at most four CMMs. MultiLoad loads up to four CMMs at once, and the quote puts 5 CMMs on it.
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  • MultiLoad holds at most 16 pallets. MultiLoad has 16 pallet storage locations, and the quote needs 20 pallets.
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7. Loading system capacity: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a ZEISS CONTURA 12/24/8 with VAST XT gold and LineScan, mounted on an RDS probe holder. It should have MultiLoad, serving 4 CMMs and needing 16 pallet locations, with the HTG option and ThermoStation. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Configuration summary. 2 sensor type(s) and 3 option(s) are on this CONTURA configuration.
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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 configures a ZEISS CONTURA bridge-type measuring machine for a manufacturer: the size, the sensors, how the sensors are mounted, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends the configuration to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the compatibility ZEISS publishes 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 ZEISS CONTURA 12/18/8 with VAST XXT compact design, XDT and DotScan, mounted on a fixed mount. It should have ShuttleLoad, with a rotary table and ThermoStation. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with four findings, all in one answer. The VAST XXT compact design sensor is listed for CONTURA only on an RDS probe holder, but the quote has a fixed mount. The XDT sensor is listed for CONTURA only on an RDS probe holder, but the quote has a fixed mount. The DotScan sensor is listed for CONTURA only on an RDS probe holder, but the quote has a fixed mount. The other one is on screen.
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  6. The validator returned four 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 a sensor that also needs an RDS probe holder, and DotScan needing an optical fiber interface as well, 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 probe holder mount to RDS probe holder.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. Still blocked, with one finding, all in one answer. The DotScan sensor is listed for CONTURA with an RDS probe holder and an optical fiber interface, and the quote has no optical fiber interface.
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  12. Three findings cleared. Still blocking: DotScan needs the optical fiber interface.
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  13. The agent resubmits once more.
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  14. The revised request. It changes the optical fiber interface to yes.
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  15. It calls the validator once more.
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  16. This time the validator clears it.
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  17. The earlier finding is cleared.
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  18. Four 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.