Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
R40-1003002 Harwin	HEX STANDOFF M4X0.7 BRASS 30MM	361
15TSP151 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #6-32 THREAD, .8	900
2124-832-AL RAF	1/4 HEX X 1-3/4 LENGTH	197
13RS087539 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .375 ID, .875 OD,	3000
005428000014 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #8 POLYSTYRENE 10MM	4060
13RSSR0004 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .090 ID, .125 OD,	1966
9006-62-B-12 RAF	ROUND SPACER BRASS 3/4"	44
13RS100061 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .517 ID, 1.000 OD,	3000
1173-6-N RAF	5_16-ROUND_SPACER	591
4503-440-S-12 RAF	HEX STANDOFF #4-40 STEEL 3/8"	718
NS-03-06 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	NON THREADED SPACER - PLASTIC,NS	1857
971750581 Würth Elektronik Midcom	HEX STANDOFF M5 STEEL 75MM	0
35HSP035 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, #6 SCR	1948
4534-832-SS RAF	HEX STANDOFF #8-32 SS 1/2"	700
2116-632-S-12 RAF	HEX STANDOFF #6-32 STEEL 1-1/4"	417
970270321 Würth Elektronik Midcom	HEX SPACER M3X0.5 STEEL 1-1/16"	359
2140-632-AL RAF	1/4 HEX X 4.00 LENGTH	195
QM3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND STANDOFF #8-32 NEOPRENE 1/2"	13
M2227-3005-AL RAF	10_MM_HEX_MALE_FEMALE_STANDOFFS	986
1124-6-B-12 RAF	1/4 RD X 1/4 X .140 ID	1000

Board Spacers, Standoffs

1. Overview

Board spacers and standoffs are specialized hardware components used to create controlled spacing between printed circuit boards (PCBs), panels, or structural elements. They provide mechanical support, electrical isolation, and thermal management in electronic assemblies. Their importance in modern technology includes enabling compact designs, reducing vibration stress, and improving heat dissipation in devices ranging from smartphones to industrial control systems.

2. Main Types & Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
Cylindrical Spacers	Simple tubular design with uniform diameter	PCB layer separation in consumer electronics
Hexagonal Standoffs	6-sided structure for wrench tightening	Industrial equipment panel mounting
Self-clinching Standoffs	Permanent installation with threaded compression	Sheet metal enclosures in servers
Adjustable Spacers	Variable length through threaded adjustment	Prototype development and testing
Insulated Spacers	Non-conductive materials for electrical isolation	High-voltage power supply assemblies

3. Structure & Composition

Typical construction includes:

Material: Stainless steel (corrosion resistance), aluminum (lightweight), or nylon (insulation)
Geometry: Cylindrical (standard), stepped (for multiple board heights), or flanged (for load distribution)
Installation Features: Internal threading (male/female), knurled surfaces (for grip), or press-fit tabs
Surface Treatment: Passivation (metal), UV resistance (plastics), or EMI shielding coating

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Importance
Material Hardness (HV)	Determines wear resistance and load capacity
Thread Engagement Length	Affects vibration resistance in dynamic environments
Thermal Conductivity (W/m K)	Critical for heat dissipation in power electronics
Dielectric Strength (kV/mm)	Safety factor in high-voltage applications
Installation Torque Rating	Prevents over-tightening damage to PCBs

5. Application Fields

Primary industries include:

Electronics Manufacturing: Server racks, LED displays
Automotive: Engine control units (ECUs), ADAS systems
Aerospace: Satellite PCB mounting, avionics enclosures
Medical Devices: MRI scanner internal structures
Consumer Electronics: Smartphone PCB stacking

6. Leading Manufacturers & Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product
PEM	S-8900 Series self-clinching standoffs
RS Components	486-8826 insulated hexagonal spacers
Mouser Electronics	925206-12 adjustable PCB spacers
McMaster-Carr	91285A102 stainless steel standoffs

7. Selection Recommendations

Evaluate mechanical load requirements vs material strength
Match thread type (UNC/UNF/Metric) with assembly hardware
Consider CTE (Coefficient of Thermal Expansion) compatibility with PCB materials
Select insulated variants for >50V circuits
Use vibration-damping coatings in mobile applications

8. Industry Trends

Emerging developments include:

Miniaturization: Sub-1mm spacers for wearable devices
Material Innovation: Conductive polymer composites for EMI shielding
Smart Integration: Standoffs with embedded strain gauges for structural monitoring
Automated Installation: Self-aligning designs for robotic assembly lines
Sustainability: Biodegradable plastic options (PLA-based) entering mainstream production