Axial flux machine and low-profile cooling apparatus

A method for assembling an axial flux machine, comprising:

• moving an assembly including a rotor and a first stator toward a second stator including at least a first electronic chip to be cooled so as to cause the assembly to engage the second stator such that the first stator is positioned on a first axial side of the rotor and the second stator is positioned on a second axial side of the rotor, wherein:
• the rotor is configured to generate first magnetic flux within an active region of the axial flux machine;
• the first stator is configured to generate second magnetic flux within the active region so that interaction of the second magnetic flux and the first magnetic flux causes the rotor to rotate about an axis of rotation;
• the rotor has a first generally annular surface oriented normal to the axis of rotation and an outer periphery at a first radial distance from the axis of rotation;
• and
• the assembly is engaged with the second stator such that:
• at least a portion of the first electronic chip is positioned in a region of the second stator that is located within the first radial distance from the axis of rotation, and
• a second generally annular surface of the second stator is positioned in close proximity to and generally parallel to the first generally annular surface so that rotation of the first generally annular surface relative to the second generally annular surface induces flow of a cooling fluid for the first electronic chip within a gap between the first generally annular surface and the second generally annular surface so that heat from the first electronic chip is transferred to the cooling fluid.