Magnetically levitated BLDC motor as a modular teaching tool

A brushless DC (BLDC) motor with a magnetically levitated rotor was developed as a teaching tool for universities. The BLDC motor is designed as an axial field motor with the motor windings placed on a printed circuit board. Six reluctance actuators are mounted around the rotor and stabilize the rotor in the remaining five degrees of freedom (DOF). Because of its simple and low cost design, it is possible to build the system using standard manufacturing techniques.