An actuator comprising: a magnetic conduit having a central bore having a first inner diameter; an armature comprising a movable permanent magnet and a pair of magnet pole end plates (20, 22) secured at opposite ends of the permanent magnet, the armature arranged in the central bore and adapted to move linearly within the magnetic conduit in first and second directions (26, 28) when an electromotive force is placed thereon; a non-magnetic shaft extending through a second inner diameter of the permanent magnet and adapted to travel with the armature in the first and second directions (26, 28), the shaft extending outside one of the ends of the magnetic conduit; a bobbin secured within the magnetic conduit; a spring disposed between the bobbin and one of the magnet pole end plates and adapted to apply a spring force that must be overcome when the armature is linearly moved in the first direction; and a pair of oppositely-wound windings (30, 32) wrapped around the bobbin and located in a radial air gap defined between an outer diameter of the pole end plates (20, 22) and the first inner diameter of the magnetic conduit, the pair of windings (30, 32) placing an electromotive force on the permanent magnet when current is induced therein; a ring-shaped magnetically conductive endplate having a third inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter and connected to an end of the magnetic conduit and spaced from the armature, so that the ring-shaped endplate together with a gap defined between the ring-shaped endplate and the permanent magnet places an attractive force on the permanent magnet of the armature at least equal to a cogging force acting on the permanent magnet of the armature when the armature moves from a center region of the magnetic conduit. a magnetic conduit having a central bore having a first inner diameter; an armature comprising a movable permanent magnet and a pair of magnet pole end plates (20, 22) secured at opposite ends of the permanent magnet, the armature arranged in the central bore and adapted to move linearly within the magnetic conduit in first and second directions (26, 28) when an electromotive force is placed thereon; a non-magnetic shaft extending through a second inner diameter of the permanent magnet and adapted to travel with the armature in the first and second directions (26, 28), the shaft extending outside one of the ends of the magnetic conduit; a bobbin secured within the magnetic conduit; a spring disposed between the bobbin and one of the magnet pole end plates and adapted to apply a spring force that must be overcome when the armature is linearly moved in the first direction; and a pair of oppositely-wound windings (30, 32) wrapped around the bobbin and located in a radial air gap defined between an outer diameter of the pole end plates (20, 22) and the first inner diameter of the magnetic conduit, the pair of windings (30, 32) placing an electromotive force on the permanent magnet when current is induced therein; a ring-shaped magnetically conductive endplate having a third inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter and connected to an end of the magnetic conduit and spaced from the armature, so that the ring-shaped endplate together with a gap defined between the ring-shaped endplate and the permanent magnet places an attractive force on the permanent magnet of the armature at least equal to a cogging force acting on the permanent magnet of the armature when the armature moves from a center region of the magnetic conduit.