AbstractThis paper describes a numerical method of calculating the dynamic behaviour of electromagnetic actuators supplied by a voltage of any waveform. Moving parts, eddy currents caused by the time variable field and the relative velocity to the field as well as saturation of the magnetic circle are taken into account. The numerical method is based on the finite difference method and the time stepping method according to Crank‐Nicolson. To consider the voltage equation a double iterative solution is used. An example of application with comparison of calculation and measurements is given.