The core inside a combined radial-axial magnetic bearing is stacked with coated laminations each equipped with at least one radial cut. These cuts prevent the inducement of circulating currents caused by varying axial control fluxes through the central hole of the stack. Magnetic symmetry is preserved by pivoting every lamination with respect to the previous one over a particular angle. This arrangement not only reduces the losses in the bearing, but improves the performance of the axial channel as well.