An electrical machine core comprising: a plurality of laminations stacked together; wherein each lamination of said plurality of laminations comprises: a body defining a plurality of winding slots on an inner diameter thereof; and at least one inner diameter cleat aperture defined by the body configured to receive a cleat in an unlocked position and to interfere with the cleat when the cleat is transitioned to a locked position within the inner diameter cleat aperture such that a plurality of laminations can be stacked and locked together by the cleat, and wherein in the unlocked position, said cleat has a peak which can be pressed so that said cleat is flatter in said locked position, and wherein the inner diameter cleat aperture is formed within more than one of the winding slots, wherein the inner diameter cleat aperture is not open to the outer diameter of the body, wherein the inner diameter cleat aperture is formed at a radially outward portion of the one or more winding slots; wherein the inner diameter cleat aperture is wider in a circumferential direction than any other portion of the one or more winding slots; wherein the electrical machine core further comprises said cleat being disposed in the at least one inner diameter cleat aperture in a locked position such that the plurality of laminations are locked together. a plurality of laminations stacked together; wherein each lamination of said plurality of laminations comprises: a body defining a plurality of winding slots on an inner diameter thereof; and at least one inner diameter cleat aperture defined by the body configured to receive a cleat in an unlocked position and to interfere with the cleat when the cleat is transitioned to a locked position within the inner diameter cleat aperture such that a plurality of laminations can be stacked and locked together by the cleat, and wherein in the unlocked position, said cleat has a peak which can be pressed so that said cleat is flatter in said locked position, and wherein the inner diameter cleat aperture is formed within more a body defining a plurality of winding slots on an inner diameter thereof; and at least one inner diameter cleat aperture defined by the body configured to receive a cleat in an unlocked position and to interfere with the cleat when the cleat is transitioned to a locked position within the inner diameter cleat aperture such that a plurality of laminations can be stacked and locked together by the cleat, and wherein in the unlocked position, said cleat has a peak which can be pressed so that said cleat is flatter in said locked position, and wherein the inner diameter cleat aperture is formed within more than one of the winding slots, wherein the inner diameter cleat aperture is not open to the outer diameter of the body, wherein the inner diameter cleat aperture is formed at a radially outward portion of the one or more winding slots; wherein the inner diameter cleat aperture is wider in a circumferential direction than any other portion of the one or more winding slots; wherein the electrical machine core further comprises said cleat being disposed in the at least one inner diameter cleat aperture in a locked position such that the plurality of laminations are locked together.