Abstract: A rotor bar relief system and a method of manufacturing a squirrel-cage rotor including a rotor bar relief system are disclosed where a plurality of rotor bars affixed within corresponding slots of an end cap of the shaft of the rotor and where each of the rotor bars has a relief formed in the end of the rotor bar affixed to the slots of the end cap. The reliefs may have a variety of cross sections and the slots may have a variety of shapes. The reliefs can be formed as the rotor bars are extruded or subsequent to production of the rotor bars. The rotor bars may be further inserted along a substantial portion of their lengths into slots in laminations of a core around the shaft. The rotor bars can be used in induction engines or induction generators and are useful in cryogenic systems.