In a preferred embodiment, a linear / rotary electromagnetic device, including: a housing (20); first and second stators (22 and 40) disposed in the housing, first and second rotors (24 / 26 and 42 / 44) disposed in the housing and magnetically interacting, respectively, with the first and second stators; the first
stator and the first rotor comprising a rotary motor; the second
stator and the second rotor comprising an
electromagnetic brake; a shaft (28) extending through a portion of the housing and axially through the first and second rotors, the shaft having a threaded portion (50) extending through a complementary threaded portion (44) of one of the first and second rotors; whereby; when the
electromagnetic brake is locked and the rotary motor is rotated in a first direction, the shaft will move axially in a first direction; when the
electromagnetic brake is locked and the rotary motor is rotated in the second direction, the shaft will move axially in a second direction; and when the electromagnetic
brake is released and the rotary motor is rotated, the shaft will rotate with the rotary motor.