Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13RSSR0078 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .252 ID, .375 OD,	1248
14HTSP119 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX THREADED STANDOFF, #4-40 THR	1960
2108-440-SS RAF	HEX STANDOFF #4-40 SS 3/4"	437
4533-440-AL RAF	HEX STANDOFF #4-40 ALUM 7/16"	782
NAS1831AC6E12 RAF	ALUMINUM 3/8 HEX FEMALE STANDOFF	0
13ME086 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 8.3MM ID, 12MM OD,	1982
13SPRT058 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #4 SCRE	900
1797C Keystone Electronics Corp.	HEX STANDOFF #2-56 ALUM 5/16"	14252200
4623-832-B RAF	3/8_HEX_MALE_FEMALE_STANDOFFS	768
963060174 Würth Elektronik Midcom	ROUND BRASS SPACER L:6,0 MM;ID:4	4540
SS6-10 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #6 PVC 1-1/4"	1055
NAS42DD6-32FC RAF	ALUMINUM UNTHREADED SPACER 3/8 R	200
NAS1829C6J08 RAF	STAINLESS STEEL 3/8 HEX MALE/FEM	95
M2107-3005-N RAF	HEX STANDOFF M3X0.5 NYLON 12MM	359
2118-440-SS RAF	1/4 HEX X 1-3/8 LENGTH	449
13RS025025 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .205 ID, .250 OD,	5000
R906-6 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 3/8"	2611
NAS1831A3B03 RAF	ALUMINUM 3/16 HEX FEMALE STANDOF	0
1128-8-SS RAF	ROUND SPACER SS 1/2"	1220
2179-1032-AL RAF	5/16 HEX X 1.00 LENGTH	300

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