Method of assembling a laminated steel stack for casting a rotor assembly

A rotor assembly comprising:

• a laminated steel stack having a plurality of steel sheets, wherein an outer surface of the laminated steel stack includes a plurality of slots extending continuously from a first axial end of the laminated steel stack to a second axial end of the laminated steel stack;
• a thin-film composite in engagement with a slot surface of each of the plurality of slots in the laminated steel stack;
• and
• a rotor cage including:
• a plurality of cast conductor bars located in corresponding one of the plurality of slots in the laminated steel stack and in contact with the thin-film composite;
• and
• a first end ring located at a first axial end of the rotor cage and a second end ring located at a second axial end of the rotor cage, wherein the first end ring, the second end ring, and the plurality of cast conductive bars are comprised of cast aluminum.