Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
4540-632-AL-7 RAF	HEX STANDOFF #6-32 ALUMINUM 7/8"	2540
4502T-632-AL RAF	3/16_HEX_MALE_FEMALE_STANDOFFS	744
13RS062534 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .383 ID, .620 OD,	1000
13RSSR0067 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .192 ID, .375 OD,	1996
1124-4-N RAF	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/4"	13510
4502-632-AL-7 RAF	HEX STANDOFF #6-32 ALUM 5/16"	904
4622-832-SS RAF	3/8 HEX X 3/8 LENGTH	246
4504T-440-N RAF	3/16 HEX X 15/32 LENGTH	490
13SP168 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	13500
M1313-3005-N RAF	HEX STANDOFF M3X0.5 NYLON 16MM	638
4536-440-S-12 RAF	HEX STANDOFF #4-40 STEEL 5/8"	144
1540-D-6-B RAF	1_4-ROUND_SWAGE_SPACER	1006
R30-3001802 Harwin	HEX STANDOFF M3X0.5 BRASS 18MM	1740
4536-832-SS RAF	HEX STANDOFF #8-32 SS 5/8"	196
9775116360R Würth Elektronik Midcom	ROUND STANDOFF M3 STEEL 1MM	483
M2104-2545-SS RAF	HEX STANDOFF M2.5X0.45 SS 9MM	2534
15TSP018 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #8-32 THREAD, .5	1970
4537-632-S-12 RAF	1/4 HEX X 11/16 LENGTH	1500
9905-437 Califia Lighting (Bivar)	ROUND SPACER #6 NYLON 7/16"	11569
13RS039343 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .248 ID, .394 OD,	5975

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