Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated, spring loaded brake or clutch for infinitely modulating control of braking torque includes a shaft rotatable about its long axis, a rotor including a friction disk mounted on the shaft in a rotationally stable manner, a magnetic body, which can be energized to produce a magnetic force, a spring-loaded laminated armature plate assembly, with the armature plate mounted on the shaft and movable axially parallel to the long axis of the shaft by the magnetic force produced in the magnetic body against the force of its spring-loading, such that the laminations flex progressively, causing the armature assembly to effectively walk across the air gap, rather than suddenly jumping from one position to another and thus providing a soft stop, when the brake is applied, and the torque vs. power function can be modulated either by varying the number of laminations, their individual thicknesses, and/or their materials.