Abstract: A low inertia synchronous induction motor for driving a daisy wheel printing element comprising a rotor assembly including an elongated motor shaft, a first laminated drum-shaped pole piece mounted concentrically on the shaft, second and third laminated cup-shaped pole pieces concentrically mounted on the shaft at either end of the drum-shaped piece and outwardly facing therefrom, a common number of axially-oriented, evenly spaced teeth formed on the respective circumferences of each of the pole pieces, the teeth of the second and third pole pieces axially aligned with each other and staggered with respect to the teeth of the first pole piece, a first washer-shaped, axially-magnetized, rare earth magnet mounted concentric with the shaft and sandwiched between the first and second pole pieces, and a second washer-shaped, axially-magnetized, rare earth magnet mounted concentric with the shaft and sandwiched between the first and third pole pieces so that its magnetic field is in opposition to the field of the f