Power tool

1. A power tool comprising:

a housing;

a motor housed in the housing;

a sander platen which is driven by the motor;

wherein the housing comprises a first housing part, a second housing part and a third housing part;

wherein the housing defines a battery receptacle portion configured to receive a removable battery pack which powers the motor;

wherein each of the first housing part, the second housing part and the third housing part form part of the battery receptacle portion;

wherein the first housing part, the second housing part and the third housing part are three separate pieces assembled together to form the housing; and

wherein the battery receptacle portion comprises a first rail and a second rail, the first and second rails configured to engage rails of the removable battery pack.

2. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the first rail is parallel to the second rail;

wherein the removable battery pack includes a battery pack housing and a plurality of battery cells housed in the battery pack housing;

wherein the removable battery pack is rechargeable.

3. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third housing parts each form part of at least one of the first rail and the second rail.

4. The power tool of claim 3 , wherein the first housing part and the second housing part together form the first rail.

5. The power tool of claim 4 , wherein the third housing part forms the second rail.

6. The power tool of claim 3 , wherein the first rail is generally perpendicular to a rotational axis of the motor.

7. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the power tool is at least one of a random orbit sander; quarter-sheet sander; detail sander and an orbit sander.

8. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the first housing part is a first side housing part, wherein the second housing part is a second side housing part and wherein the third housing part is a top housing part; and

wherein the first side housing part and the second side housing part form sides of the housing when the sander platen is disposed on a flat horizontal surface and the top housing part forms a top part of the housing when the sander platen is disposed on the flat horizontal surface.

9. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein an electrical connector configured to electrically engage with the battery pack is held between the second housing part and the third housing part.

10. A sander comprising:

a housing;

a motor housed in the housing;

a sander platen which is driven by the motor;

wherein the housing comprises a first housing part, a second housing part and a third housing part;

wherein the housing defines a battery receptacle portion configured to receive a removable battery pack which powers the motor, the battery receptacle portion comprising a first rail and a second rail, the first rail and the second rail configured to engage rails of the removable battery pack;

wherein the first rail is comprised of the first housing part and the second housing part;

wherein the first housing part, the second housing part and the third housing part are three separate pieces assembled together to form the housing;

wherein the removable battery pack includes a battery pack housing and a plurality of battery cells housed in the battery pack housing; and

wherein the removable battery pack is rechargeable.

11. The sander of claim 10 , wherein the second rail is comprised of the third housing part.

12. The sander of claim 10 , further comprising an electrical connector configured to engage the removable battery pack.

13. The sander of claim 10 , wherein the first housing part is a first side housing part, wherein the second housing part is a second side housing part and wherein the third housing part is a top housing part; and

wherein the first side housing part and the second side housing part form sides of the housing when the sander platen is disposed on a flat horizontal surface and the top housing part forms a top part of the housing when the sander platen is disposed on a flat horizontal surface.

14. The sander of claim 10 , wherein the first rail and the second rail are generally perpendicular to a rotational axis of the motor.

15. The sander of claim 10 , wherein the first housing part, the second housing part and the third housing part are made of a plastic material.

16. A power tool comprising:

a housing;

a motor housed in the housing;

an output member which is driven by the motor;

wherein the housing comprises a first housing part, a second housing part and a third housing part;

wherein the housing defines a battery receptacle portion configured to receive a removable battery pack which powers the motor, the battery receptacle portion comprising a first rail and a second rail, the first rail and the second rail configured to engage rails of the removable battery pack;

wherein the second rail is comprised of the third housing part;

wherein the first housing part, the second housing part and the third housing part are three separate pieces assembled together to form the housing;

wherein the first rail is parallel to the second rail; and

further comprising an electrical connector configured to engage the removable battery pack.

17. The power tool of claim 16 , wherein the first rail is comprised of the first housing part and the second housing part.

18. The power tool of claim 16 , wherein the electrical connector is held between the second housing part and the third housing part.

19. The power tool of claim 16 , wherein the first housing part is a first side housing part, wherein the second housing part is a second side housing part; and

wherein the first side housing part and the second side housing part form sides of the housing when the power tool is disposed on a flat horizontal surface.

20. The power tool of claim 16 , wherein the output member is a sander platen and the power tool is a sander.