Disk drive spindle motor with radial gap and field generating coils interconnected by ring flux guide

A brushless permanent magnet DC motor for use as a disk drive spindle motor has a radial working gap but uses flat coils that generate magnetic fields that interact with the permanent magnet fields across the radial gap. The stator includes a plurality of angularly spaced stator teeth that have faces radially spaced across the gap from the permanent magnet. The magnetic flux from the permanent magnet is directed radially across the gap and into the stator teeth. Each stator tooth has an axially oriented post around which is wound a flat coil that generates an axial field. The central axis of the coil forms part of the magnetic circuit. The magnetic flux directed radially into each stator tooth is turned axially into the post. The axially directed magnetic flux through the coil and post on each tooth is redirected from the axial direction to the circumferential direction by a ring magnetic flux guide. The ring flux guide interconnects the stator teeth and forms part of the magnetic circuit.