Abstract: A cascaded motor arrangement is configured with a plurality of rotor/stator sets that extend in an axial direction. A stator set contains a plurality of separate electromagnet core segments disposed coaxially about an axis of rotation. The core segments may be affixed, without ferromagnetic contact with each other, to a non-ferromagnetic support structure. A rotor set is configured in a U-shaped annular ring that at least partially surrounds the annular stator set and may define two parallel axial air gaps between the rotor and stator respectively on opposite axial sides of the stator and at least one radial air gap. Permanent magnets are distributed on each inner surface of the U-shaped rotor annular ring that faces an air gap. A winding is formed on a core portion that links axially aligned stator poles to produce, when energized, magnetic poles of opposite polarity at the pole faces.