A linear drive including a stator and a rotor configured for linear reciprocal movement along an axis, with the stator having a magnetic-field guide core having a plurality of legs extending each with one foot substantially toward the rotor, with the rotor having a plurality of magnets disposed in a linear array along the direction of the axis, wherein at least one of a respective one of respective lengths of the magnets along the axis and the respective widths of the legs along the axis and the respective spacings of the legs along the axis are different such that force components of the magnets along the axis will substantially compensate each other when the linear drive is in a de-energized state.