Support added for quality information framework (QIF) file format.
Kubotek Kosmos announced the 7.0 major release of its Validate, Revision, Convert, and View products. These model-based definition (MBD) file utility programs use Kubotek Kosmos modeling technology to facilitate accurate sharing of 3D CAD and product manufacturing information (PMI) data across the manufacturing supply chain. Version 7 includes updates for major CAD file formats, improved model visualization, and added support for viewing and verifying MBD data in the QIF file format. The software is now available for download.
QIF file support added
Validate, View, and Convert 7.0 products have added all-new support for reading solids/surfaces and PMI data from Quality Information Framework (QIF) 3.0 files. Accepted as an ISO standard data file format in 2020, QIF is an XML-based MBD format used in inspection workflows for manufactured parts. The new format is used as a CAD-neutral derivative format similar to the widely supported STEP standard.
QIF and inspection
QIF extends 3D product design and manufacturing data by including inspection characteristics, measurement plans, and dimensional results data from measurement equipment. By connecting all of this data together using persistent IDs, the format is emerging as a component of digital-thread connectivity of design models through to post-manufacturing inspection results. Major industrial OEMs like Lockheed Martin are distributing QIF and STEP datasets to their supply chain[1]. Kubotek Kosmos MBD utilities help part suppliers manage these datasets and meet related quality systems requirements. Verification and documentation that MBD data in QIF derivative files match the original authority CAD data is now fully supported by the Kubotek Kosmos Validate product.
Advancing real-world adoption of MBD
The CAD-neutral features of these utilities support the adoption of MBD data exchange through a partnership with the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), a manufacturing research center. To help manufacturers transition to MBD practices, NMIS has developed a Digital Product Passport (DPP) to address data exchange standardization challenges in the remanufacturing sector. A key aspect of this effort is validating translations from native CAD to ensure accuracy in both geometry and PMI.
Updated CAD file support
Reading of 3D CAD files across all Kubotek Kosmos MBD utility software programs has been updated to support new versions of seven file formats:
- Autodesk Inventor 2025
- Dassault Systemes (DS) CATIA V6/3DExperience R2025x
- DS SolidWorks 2025
- PTC Creo 11.0
- Siemens Digital Industries Software (SDIS) NX 2406
- SDIS Parasolid V37
- SDIS Solid Edge 2025
New support for reading the Autodesk Fusion F3D format has been added to the View and Convert products. Reading of CKD files in the Validate and Revision products has also been extended to support the Kubotek Kosmos KeyCreator 2025 format.
Additional enhancements
7.0 improvements to cutting plane capabilities provide users better visualization of interior details of 3D models. Specifically, options have been added to align cutting planes to model edges and to offset planes with user-entered distance or angle values. User interface components in the 7.0 release have been updated to support the latest high-resolution displays.
In the Revision program, creation of detailed reports illustrating exactly what areas of a complex model have changed now provides more flexible manual categorization of added, removed, or revised groupings of faces into user-defined features. The Validate program has been enhanced with a mass properties node for each part and improved support for CSV nominal point cloud files since the last major release.
[1] Lockhead Martin’s Model-Based Enterprise Playbook for Suppliers, 2024, Lockheed Martin Corp., https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed-martin/eo/documents/suppliers/training-2023-mbe-playbook.pdf
For more information, visit kubotekkosmos.com.
