Characterization of Electromagnetic Rotor Material Properties and Their Impact on an Ultra-High Speed Spinning Ball Motor

The ongoing miniaturization trend of electric machines increases the demand for higher rotational speeds to provide a required power level at decreased size. In this paper, new concepts for bearingless machines with ultra-high rotational speeds exceeding 25 million rotations per minute are researched. While the mechanical properties of the employed sub-millimeter-sized spherical steel rotors are documented, insufficient information is available on the electromagnetic characteristics that are crucial for magnetic levitation and acceleration. This paper outlines the relations between the relative permeability and conductivity of the rotor material and the achievable active magnetic bearing force and angular acceleration. Measured results for complete hysteresis curves of different rotor steels are presented.