A simple and general fabrication method for helical swimming micromachines by direct laser writing and e-beam evaporation is demonstrated. The magnetic helical devices exhibit varying magnetic shape anisotropy, yet always generate corkscrew motion using a rotating magnetic field. They also exhibit good swimming performance and are capable of pick-and-place micromanipulation in 3D. Cytotoxicity of the devices was investigated using mouse myoblasts. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.