Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13SP346 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .194 ID, .313 OD,	2000
970180244 Würth Elektronik Midcom	BRASS SPACER STUD METRIC THREAD	800
13RS018726 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .135 ID, .187 OD,	913
4509-440-N RAF	HEX STANDOFF #4-40 NYLON 3/4"	670
005462000014 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND SPACER #10 POLYSTYRENE 10MM	4876
M1652-C-2545-B RAF	4.5MM RD X 5MM X M2.5 THD	600
13RS014533 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .038 ID, .138 OD,	6000
13RS039315 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .151 ID, .393 OD,	3000
M0854-8-AL RAF	19_MM-ROUND_SPACER	658
970200144 Würth Elektronik Midcom	BRASS SPACER STUD METRIC THREAD	1385
9100-75-NMODL=2-1/4 RAF	ROUND SPACER NYLON 2-1/4"	100
M2159-4007-S-28 RAF	6MM HEX X 24MM X M4 THD	964
9774010151R Würth Elektronik Midcom	RND STANDOFF M2.5X0.45 STEEL 1MM	5004
TNM4-9.5-25-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF M4 NYLON 25MM	199
1122-4-N RAF	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/8"	4011
14HTSP208 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX THREADED STANDOFF, #6-32 THR	950
4575-832-SS RAF	5/16 HEX X 1/2 LENGTH	100
971150477 Würth Elektronik Midcom	STAINLESS STEEL SPACER STUD METR	807
971130365 Würth Elektronik Midcom	PLASTIC SPACER STUD METRIC THREA	480
M0603-5-SS RAF	8MM RD X 14MM X 5.3MM ID	194

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