A passive haptic interface includes a first element which is rotatably movable about an axis or translatably movable along an axis, the first movable element rotating or moving opposite a second fixed element. The first movable element has a first plurality of magnetic poles spaced periodically at a pole pitch Ps and in the direction of movement, and the second fixed element has a second plurality of magnetic poles periodically spaced at a pole pitch Pr and in the direction of movement, where Ps and Pr are different numbers. A periodic stress is created by the magnetic interaction between the first movable element and the second fixed element in a period Pt. The pole pitches Ps and Pr are chosen such that Pt is strictly less than the smallest of the pitches Ps and Pr.