A system for at least one of homogenization and lysis of a sample includes one or more walls forming an enclosed chamber, a permanent magnet within the enclosed chamber, a magnet guide, and one or more magnets located outside the chamber. The enclosed chamber has an inlet and one or more fluidic connections configured to introduce at least the sample into the chamber. The permanent magnet has a positive pole and a negative pole. The magnet guide is configured to laterally guide the permanent magnet between a first position and a second position and maintain a substantially constant orientation of the permanent magnet during the movement. Movement of the magnets outside the chamber changes a magnetic field between the one or more magnets and the permanent magnet. The permanent magnet moves between the first and second positions in response to the changing magnetic field.