A method for operating an electric motor, wherein the electric motor comprises: a motor stator comprising a flexible printed circuit, wherein the flexible printed circuit comprises a plurality of coils (30A-30L); a bearing attached to a fixed shaft; a motor rotor, the said motor rotor comprising a housing and a plurality of permanent magnets that are spaced apart from the flexible printed circuit, the said plurality of permanent magnets being attached to the housing and interposed between the housing and the flexible printed circuit, wherein the motor rotor is spaced apart from the flexible printed circuit and wherein the motor rotor is attached to the bearing, wherein the motor rotor is configured to rotate around the fixed shaft through rotation of the bearing during the application of power to the plurality of coils (30A-30L); and a printed circuit board attached to the fixed shaft and electrically coupled to the flexible printed circuit, wherein the printed circuit board is configured to provide electrical commutation for the plurality of coils (30A-30L), wherein the printed circuit board comprises a plurality of electrical surface mount connections on a lower surface of the printed circuit board, the plurality of electrical surface mount connections configured to pass signals to the or from the printed circuit board, the said lower surface being the surface of the printed circuit board that is further from the motor stator, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets have a shape that matches the shape of the flexible printed circuit, the shape of the flexible printed circuit and the shape of the plurality of permanent magnets each forming a truncated cone shape; the method comprising: applying a power signal to the plurality of coils (30A-30L) included with the flexible printed circuit to generate an electromagnetic field sequentially in each coil phase of the plurality of coils (30A-30L) extending along the truncated cone shape of the flexible printed circuit and in relation to the permanent magnets to rotate the motor rotor around the motor stator during application of the power signal to the plurality of coils (30A-30L); and wherein rotating the motor rotor rotates the plurality of permanent magnets around the fixed shaft. a motor stator comprising a flexible printed circuit, wherein the flexible printed circuit comprises a plurality of coils (30A-30L); a bearing attached to a fixed shaft; a motor rotor, the said motor rotor comprising a housing and a plurality of permanent magnets that are spaced apart from the flexible printed circuit, the said plurality of permanent magnets being attached to the housing and interposed between the housing and the flexible printed circuit, wherein the motor rotor is spaced apart from the flexible printed circuit and wherein the motor rotor is attached to the bearing, wherein the motor rotor is configured to rotate around the fixed shaft through rotation of the bearing during the application of power to the plurality of coils (30A-30L); and a printed circuit board attached to the fixed shaft and electrically coupled to the flexible printed circuit, wherein the printed circuit board is configured to provide electrical commutation for the plurality of coils (30A-30L), wherein the printed circuit board comprises a plurality of electrical surface mount connections on a lower surface of the printed circuit board, the plurality of electrical surface mount connections configured to pass signals to the or from the printed circuit board, the said lower surface being the surface of the printed circuit board that is further from the motor stator, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets have a shape that matches the shape of the flexible printed circuit, the shape of the flexible printed circuit and the shape of the plurality of permanent magnets each forming a truncated cone shape; the method comprising: applying a power signal to the plurality of coils (30A-30L) included with the flexible printed circuit to generate an electromagnetic field sequentially in each coil phase of the plurality of coils (30A-30L) extending along the truncated cone shape of the flexible printed circuit and in relation to the permanent magnets to rotate the motor rotor around the motor stator during application of the power signal to the plurality of coils (30A-30L); and wherein rotating the motor rotor rotates the plurality of permanent magnets around the fixed shaft.