Electric motor with segmented rotor

An electric motor with a rotor, the rotor comprising:

• a plurality of first laminations, each of the first laminations comprising a plurality of first segments, a plurality of first insulated regions, and a plurality of interconnections, the first segments forming a number of magnetically permeable pole regions, the first insulated regions being disposed between the first segments and isolating adjacent first segments from each other, and the interconnections mechanically connecting adjacent first segments together to physically support the first segments;
• a plurality of second laminations, each of the second laminations comprising a plurality of second segments and a plurality of second insulated regions, the second segments forming a number of magnetically permeable pole regions, and the second insulated regions being disposed between the second segments and isolating adjacent second segments from each other;
• wherein the first and second laminations are stacked against each other, at least one of the second laminations being disposed between two of the first laminations, the second laminations being laterally affixed to the first laminations such that the interconnections of the first laminations physically support the second segments of the second laminations, and the second segments reduce flux leakage between rotor poles of the rotor.