Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13SP204 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	24743
4038-632-N RAF	1/4 RD X 3/4 LENGTH	100
M0608-4-AL RAF	8MM RD X 19MM X 4.3MM ID	496
13RS038036 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .328 ID, .384 OD,	3000
970320365 Würth Elektronik Midcom	PLASTIC SPACER STUD METRIC THREA	501
13RS075009 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .320 ID, .750 OD,	7990
3032-B-256-AL RAF	ROUND STANDOFF #2-56 ALUM 1/4"	200
2056-256-SS RAF	3/16 HEX X 7/16 LENGTH	600
1679T-1032-N RAF	1/4 RD X 7/32 LENGTH	486
1700-632-N RAF	1/4 RD X 1-1/2 LENGTH	190
MF-400-UC31-H Aearo Technologies, LLC – a 3M company	RND STNDFF 5/16"-18 SYN 3/4" 1PC	846
NAS43DD1-108FC RAF	ALUMINUM UNTHREADED SPACER 1/4 R	0
2051T-256-N RAF	3/16 HEX X 5/32 LENGTH	475
M0937-A-3-AL RAF	6MM RD X 3MM X 3.2MM ID	196
R30-6200614 Harwin	ROUND SPACER M3 ALUMINUM 6MM	4857
2136-632-SS RAF	1/4 HEX X 3.00 LENGTH	100
4536-440-AL-7 RAF	HEX STANDOFF #4-40 ALUMINUM 5/8"	3447
NAS1829C6G48 RAF	STAINLESS STEEL 3/8 HEX MALE/FEM	0
4542-632-B-12 RAF	1/4 HEX X 1.00 LENGTH	500
SWI1960A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M9 NYLON 4.7MM	1610

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