Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13RSSR0048 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .166 ID, .312 OD,	2000
R904-5 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 5/16"	4860
NAS1829C4G36 RAF	STAINLESS STEEL 1/4 HEX MALE/FEM	0
4058-832-SS-20 RAF	1/4 RD X 2.00 LENGTH	113
960250084 Würth Elektronik Midcom	ROUND PLASTIC SPACER L:25,0 MM	341
SH1007-F Davies Molding, LLC.	M5 X 50MM FEMALE/FEMALE HEX HYBR	244
13RS125082 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .255 ID, 1.250 OD,	475
M0595-4-AL-7 RAF	8MM RD X 6MM X 4.3MM ID	410
M0504-25-N RAF	ROUND SPACER NYLON 5MM	2715
4501-632-SS RAF	HEX STANDOFF #6-32 SS 1/4"	727
24306 Keystone Electronics Corp.	HEX STANDOFF M4 SS 25MM	10381086
13RS056740 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .437 ID, .567 OD,	2000
M0902-C-25-AL RAF	4.5MM RD X 3MM X 2.7MM ID	1190
5059-2 Keystone Electronics Corp.	ROUND SPACER #6 BRASS 1/8"	884512600
1917-2520-AL RAF	1/2_ROUND_FEMALE_STANDOFFS	498
NAS1831AC4C09 RAF	ALUMINUM 1/4 HEX FEMALE STANDOFF	0
M2101-3005-SS RAF	HEX STANDOFF M3X0.5 SS 6MM	4905
1643-440-N RAF	3/16 RD X 7/8 LENGTH	0
24405 Keystone Electronics Corp.	HEX STANDOFF M3 BRASS 15MM	5912400
971550581 Würth Elektronik Midcom	HEX STANDOFF M5 STEEL 55MM	201

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