An improved electromagnetic work coil for use with an electromagnetic force machine that produces a pulling (tension) force on a conductive panel work piece. The electromagnetic work coil comprises a coil with insulated conductor windings passing through a clamped stressing region. The work coil further contains mating terminals and is encapsulated in a nonmagnetic housing. A clamp on the stressing region comprises two clamp surfaces and a part in tension outside of the stressing region to tangentially compress the windings in the stressing region. The preferred embodiment the winding paths around the stressing region are made symmetric to provide a centered linear pulling area with a symmetric magnetic field. The conductor windings are tapered that increase in height and width outside of the stressing region to improve thermal and electrical conductivity and decrease the magnetic field outside of the stressing region.