A permanent magnet chuck for holding or lifting workpieces is formed of two overlying/underlying flat surfaced chuck layers having a common center of rotation. In each chuck layer an even number of permanent magnet plates radiate from the center of rotation at equal angles with blocks of magnetically soft material between them. The permanent magnet plates are magnetized so that the interposed soft magnet blocks exhibit alternating N-S magnetic polarities. The organization of the permanent magnet plates and soft magnet bodies is matching and complementary so that relative rotation of the chuck layers magnetically activates or de-activates the chuck.