Random orbit sander

A method of assembling a sander, the method comprising:

• providing:
• an eccentric carrier,
• a dust extraction fan,
• a radial bearing, and
• a shaft having a longitudinal axis;
• sizing an internal bore of the dust extraction fan to be nominally smaller than an external surface of the eccentric carrier;
• sizing an internal bore of the eccentric carrier to be nominally smaller than an external surface of the radial bearing;
• sizing an internal bore of the radial bearing to be nominally smaller than an external surface of the shaft;
• and
• pressing the eccentric carrier, the dust extraction fan, the radial bearing, and the shaft together with an interference fit between the respective external surfaces and the internal bores of the eccentric carrier, the dust extraction fan, the radial bearing, and the shaft in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

A random orbit sander comprising:

• a housing;
• a motor enclosed within the housing, the motor including a motor shaft rotatable about a first axis;
• an eccentric carrier coupled to the motor shaft, the eccentric carrier including a circular internal bore defining a second axis that is offset from the motor shaft;
• a radial bearing received within the circular internal bore of the eccentric carrier;
• a dust extraction fan rotationally unitized with the eccentric carrier for corotation therewith;
• an eccentric shaft having a longitudinal axis;
• and
• a sanding pad supported by the eccentric shaft and rotatable about the first axis in an eccentrically orbiting manner;
• wherein the eccentric carrier, the radial bearing, the dust extraction fan, and the eccentric shaft are coupled to each other by press-fit connections.