Precision engineering is required to build machines that have to perform under high operating speed and with a big accuracy. The integration of the mechanical design and the controller design is a prerequisite. Modeling and simulation is an important tool, because it allows to make a trade-off between the complexity of the control and the design tolerances of the mechanical parts. It will for example give an answer to the following questions:

• What is the expected accuracy of the system?
• How large are the internal forces?
• How much heat is generated?

To make adequate models for precision engineering, a good deal of knowledge is required in the areas of mechanical engineering, electrical drives and control engineering.