Fans are often driven directly by an external rotor motor. In the case of a PMSM, the electromagnetically active components of such a drive usually consist of permanent magnets, copper and electrical sheet metal. The Corona crisis and geopolitical conflicts have shown that readily available materials, such as electrical steel, become scarce in times of crisis and are subject to sharp price increases.

A possible alternative to electrical sheet is the SMC material (soft magnetic composite). Due to the poorer magnetic conductivity compared to electrical sheet, a direct replacement in a radial flux machine is not possible. An interesting alternative is being offered by the axial flux topology. This article presents the electromagnetic design of an axial flux machine with SMC stator. The proposed permanent magnets consist of ferrite, which ensures high availability as well. Relevant parameters such as efficiency and smooth running, which are particularly important for fan drives, are discussed. A comparison and evaluation to an existing external rotor radial flux motor is carried out.