It is an object of the present invention to provide NEMS that utilize electrostatic and electromagnetic forces to operate. In one nanoelectrostatic embodiment, a nanometer-scale beam is suspended in an electric field. Electrically charged rails are placed around the beam. When a beam contacts a rail, the beam is forced to move through the electric field in a particular direction. In one nanoelectromagnetic embodiment, a nanometer-scale beam is suspended in a magnetic field. A rail is located in the vicinity of the beam and opposite charges are applied to the rail and beam. In this manner, a current may flow between the beam and rail when the beam and rail contact each other. This current may interact with the magnetic field to move the beam in a particular direction.