Pre-warped rotors for control of magnet-stator gap in axial flux machines

The axial flux motor or generator of claim wherein:

• the first magnet has an inner edge disposed at the second point;
• the first magnet has an outer edge that is opposite the inner edge and disposed at the first point;
• and
• the first rotor plate and first magnet are further configured and arranged such that, if the first rotor plate and the first magnet were separated from all other magnetic field-generating components, then a ratio of the distance between the first and second planes and a distance between the first and second points would be greater than 0.002.

A method for forming an axial flux motor or generator, comprising:

• attaching a first magnet to a first rotor plate, the first magnet having a first surface that is orthogonal to a magnetization direction of the first magnet;
• engaging the first rotor plate with a rotor shaft that is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, wherein the first rotor plate is configured such that, after the first magnet is attached to the first rotor plate, a distance between a first plane that intercepts a first point on the first surface and to which the axis of rotation is normal and a second plane that intercepts a second point on the first surface and to which the axis of rotation is normal is substantially greater than zero;
• and
• engaging a second rotor plate with the rotor shaft such that:
• a first magnetic flux that is generated within a gap between the first magnet and a second magnet attached to the second rotor plate causes the distance between the first and second planes to be substantially equal to zero, and
• a stator is disposed within the gap, wherein the stator is configured to selectively generate a second magnetic flux that interacts with the first magnetic flux so as to cause the rotor shaft, the first rotor plate, and the first magnet to rotate in unison.