Innovative SMC Insulation Technique Applied to Axial Flux Machine Prototypes

The paper describes in detail the realization of an axial flux machine prototype adopting an innovative Soft Magnetic Composite (SMC) material. The novel technique here presented regards a Layer-by-Layer deposition adopted to insulate pure iron powder grains previously selected. The obtained material is then used to prepare the machine's stator parts. The activity steps are detailed: from the powder preparation to the molding phase, the consequent milling for the final shape, and the consequent magnetic, energetic and mechanical characterization. The prototype design and assembly imply the realization of the stator with the adopted innovative material, and the Authors also realized the preparation of the rotor equipped with bonded magnets. The preliminary experimental results are presented at the end, and considering the machine to be the first trial with the presented material, the efficiency of 77% should be viewed as a promising result for the future development of the activity.