--- title: How SMCs Can Unlock the Hidden Assets of Axial Flux Motors description: Discover all the benefits soft magnetic composites (SMCs) bring when coupled with the axial flux motor. image: https://www.horizontechnology.biz/hubfs/Horizon%20Blog%20graphic%20-%20Final%20edit-1.jpg --- # How SMCs Can Unlock the Hidden Assets of Axial Flux Motors. Posted by Eric Wolfe - November 30, 2022 - [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/how-smcs-can-unlock-the-hidden-assets-of-axial-flux-motors) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/how-smcs-can-unlock-the-hidden-assets-of-axial-flux-motors&title=&summary=&source=) - [**](https://twitter.com/home?status=) - [**](https://plus.google.com/share?url=https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/how-smcs-can-unlock-the-hidden-assets-of-axial-flux-motors) - [**](mailto:?&subject=https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/how-smcs-can-unlock-the-hidden-assets-of-axial-flux-motors&body=https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/how-smcs-can-unlock-the-hidden-assets-of-axial-flux-motors) ** [We previously highlighted all of the benefits of axial flux motors](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/electric-motor-design-radial-vs.-axial-transverse-flux) –* high power density, shorter magnetic path, more torque, and better cooling* – so why aren’t more people taking advantage of the topology? Your current design might be doing the job, *but**** what if we told you there was a way to get more out of your money? ***Here, we’ll illustrate additional assets of axial flux motors and how they can improve your bottom line.  ## Benefits of the Axial Flux Motor Axial flux motors have a variety of benefits, including: 1. Increased performance  2. Simplified manufacturability 3. Maximized magnet utilization 4. Reduced bill of materials combining the best of green technologies ### Increased Performance Axial flux motors demonstrate increased performance over traditional radial flux motors, due to: - A higher torque density, leading to lower overall weight - A shorter flux path for more efficient use of magnet material - More efficient use of copper, leading to reduced copper losses - The intrinsic design of the axial flux motor, providing exposed wire surfaces, leading to improved cooling ### Simplified Manufacturability As opposed to internal slot-inserted winding, **the wound bobbin design of the axial flux motor is easier to produce ****and requires less specialized winding equipment. ** ### Maximized Magnet Utilization Because of the improved cooling of the axial flux motor, you may have the potential to use lower cost magnets, yet yield the same performance. Due to the shorter flux path intrinsic with the axial flux motor design, the path through the magnet is shorter, which essentially leads to less magnet material. As we’ll discuss further below, the addition of soft magnetic composites (SMCs) allows for a more compact design with smaller magnets, further saving you money. ### Reduced Bill of Materials: Combining the Best of Green Technologies Axial flux motors are also more environmentally friendly than other types of motors. With the axial flux design, you can enjoy reductions in: - Energy consumption, while still enjoying higher performance - Waste through recyclability and utilization of material  - Copper usage (no end-turns) - Reliance on rare earth magnetic material - Weight for the same power output If this isn’t enough, an SMC stator requires 15% less energy to produce over a steel laminated stator. ## Cost Drawbacks of the Traditional Axial Flux Motor Using Laminations As we’ve discussed before, laminations can be used in your axial flux motor design – but it comes with a variety of inherent weaknesses, including: - The axial flux machine stator is difficult to manufacture and automate, for the following reasons: - Increased supply chain issues lead to longer lead times, making the process more expensive. Lack of available capacity to support projected market growth - further impacting lead times and increased cost. - Due to the varying thickness of lamination sheet steel, the effective stacking factor of the assembly will be 90-95%, thus lowering the saturation induction of the assembly. ## Good News – SMCs Can Alleviate These Drawbacks Through the use of SMCs, you can enjoy all the inherent performance advantages of an axial flux motor design, without the drawbacks of laminations. These include: - You can achieve a **high tooth-to-tooth precision from pole to pole**  - SMCs **reduce the magnostrictive effect **inherent in all magnetic materials. The magnostrictive effect is the inherent size change of magnetic materials with the application of an applied field. This growing and shrinking of laminations results in noise. - SMC components are readily available, so **you won’t experience the same supply chain issues as with laminations ** ## Ready to Maximize Your Electric Motor Performance with SMCs and Axial Flux Motors? **SMCs and axial flux motors are the perfect synergy of cost savings, efficiency, and performance**. If you find this fusion intriguing and you really want to maximize your advantages, [***check out the yokeless axial flux design***](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/advantages-of-yokeless-axial-flux-motors-soft-magnetic-composites)***.*** *Editor's Note: This article was originally published in July 2022 and was updated on November 2022.* Topics: [Powdered Metallurgy](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/tag/powdered-metallurgy), [Soft Magnetic Composite](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/tag/soft-magnetic-composite) --- ### Recent Posts By Horizon Technology - May 19, 2026 #### The Motor Design Sequence Is Changing [Read More >>>](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/the-motor-design-sequence-is-changing) By Horizon Technology - April 20, 2026 #### How Operating Voltage Determines Motor Topology Selection [Read More >>>](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/motor-topology-selection-by-voltage) By Horizon Technology - April 07, 2026 #### Five Electric Motor Topologies Engineers Should Be Exploring [Read More >>>](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/five-electric-motor-topologies-engineers-should-be-exploring) --- ### Recent Posts ### Get Updates via Email ## ISO 9001:2015 --- ![powder metallurgy](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/iso%20logo%20registered%20trademark.gif?width=162&name=iso%20logo%20registered%20trademark.gif) We’re proudly ISO 9001:2015 certified, which means quality assurance at every stage of your project. Our internal systems have been inspected for reliability and cost effectiveness, and received the seal of approval. **[View our ISO 9001:2015 certification.](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/hubfs/ISO%2090012015%20Certificate%202024.pdf)**   ## Plex Systems --- ![powder metallurgy](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/plex%20Logo.png?width=500&name=plex%20Logo.png) Horizon uses Plex Manufacturing Cloud software to meet your strict and exhaustive traceability and quality goals. Plex's real-time updates let us continuously improve efficiency and customer responsiveness. Your lead times will decrease, and you’ll receive quicker service. **[Learn more about Plex systems.](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/powder-metal-technology-plex)** ### Horizon Technology. People. Passion. Powdered Metal. 293 Battery Street St. Marys, PA 15857 (814) 834-4004  ### Fresh from our blog © 2025 [Horizon Technology Inc.](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/) [Conflict Minerals Policy](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/policies) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.horizontechnology.biz/policies) ** ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Eric Wolfe", "url" : "https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/author/eric-wolfe" }, "dateModified" : "2023-02-17T15:25:47.841Z", "datePublished" : "2022-11-30T14:20:28.000Z", "headline" : "How SMCs Can Unlock the Hidden Assets of Axial Flux Motors", "image" : [ "https://www.horizontechnology.biz/hubfs/Horizon%20Blog%20graphic%20-%20Final%20edit-1.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.horizontechnology.biz/blog/how-smcs-can-unlock-the-hidden-assets-of-axial-flux-motors", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.horizontechnology.biz/hubfs/HorizonLogo-Adjusted3.png" }, "name" : "Horizon Technology" } } ```