Cut-off saw

A saw, comprising:

• a saw housing, the saw housing including a front end, a rear end that is opposite the front end, a lateral first side, a lateral second side that is opposite the first side, a third side that joins the first side to the second side, a fourth side that is opposite the third side, a longitudinal axis that extends through the front end and the rear end, and a hollow support arm that protrudes outward from the front end,
• the first side, the second side, the third side, the fourth side, the front end and the rear end cooperating to define an interior space of the saw housing,
• the rear end including a housing rear inlet opening that permits fluid communication between an environment of the saw and the interior space,
• the first side including a first housing side outlet opening disposed between the rear end and the front end, the first housing side outlet opening permitting fluid communication between the environment of the saw and the interior space;
• the second side including a second housing side outlet opening disposed between the rear end and the front end, the second housing side outlet opening permitting fluid communication between the environment of the saw and the interior space;
• an electric motor disposed in the interior space, the electric motor including an output shaft that is rotatable about an output shaft axis;
• a motor fan driven by the output shaft and configured to draw cooling air through the saw housing;
• a battery pack disposed in the interior space between the electric motor and the rear end, the battery pack configured to supply power to the electric motor;
• a printed circuit board that supports electronics configured to control operation of the saw, the printed circuit board being disposed in the interior space;
• and
• a blade drive assembly disposed in the support arm, the blade drive assembly configured to detachably connect a cutting blade to the support arm and transmit a rotational motion of the output shaft to the cutting blade when the cutting blade is connected to the saw,
• wherein
• the saw includes at least one cooling air path through the interior space of the saw housing, and when the motor fan is driven by the electric motor, air that enters the saw housing via the housing rear inlet opening flows along the at least one cooling air path and is exhausted from saw housing via the first housing side outlet opening and the second housing side outlet opening,
• the first housing side outlet opening and the second housing side outlet opening are configured to form an air curtain of air exhausted from the saw housing, the air curtain configured to move cutting debris away from the front end of the saw, and
• upon exiting the saw housing via the first housing side outlet opening, the air flowing along the at least one cooling air path provides air for the air curtain, wherein the first housing side outlet opening and the second housing side outlet opening are constituted by a series of slots that extend through the thickness of the respective side, the slots extending at a slot angle relative to a Ime that is normal to the respective side.