Abstract: A reciprocating piston drive mechanism, especially for a reciprocating piston vacuum pump, includes a cylinder (3) embodied in a housing (12). A piston (4) is moved back and forth in the cylinder by an electromagnetic drive that has an electromagnet (11) on the stator side and at least one permanent magnet (18, 19) on the piston side. In order to increase service life of said drive mechanism, permanent magnets (15, 16) are also provided on the stator side. The piston permanent magnet(s) (18, 19) and the stator permanent magnets (15, 16) are configured and disposed in such a way that the piston (4) is magnetically biased to a substantially central axial position in the idle state.