Patent ID: 9673688
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: H01F,H02K

Claim:
1. A method for forming a magnet assembly, comprising: disposing a magnet on a bearing assembly so that the magnet is free to rotate about an axis normal to a surface of a base, the base comprising at least one magnet alignment feature that causes the magnet to rotate about the axis to a preferred angular orientation corresponding to a lower energy configuration as a function of angle about the axis as the magnet is moved closer to the base; moving the bearing assembly relative to the base to bring the magnet closer to the base and allow the magnet to achieve the preferred angular orientation; further moving the bearing assembly relative the base until a surface of the magnet contacts the surface of the base; positioning a support structure on the magnet while keeping an angular positioning feature of the support structure aligned with a particular angular position of the base; and separating the magnet and support structure from the base as a unit, wherein the magnet comprises a ring magnet having an alternating sequence of north and south poles and the support structure is configured to be attached to a rotor shaft of an axial flux motor or generator so that the angular position of the unit is fixed with respect to the rotor shaft.