Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
4040-440-AL RAF	1_4_ROUND_MALE_FEMALE_STANDOFFS	1401
R30-6200714 Harwin	ROUND SPACER M3 ALUMINUM 7MM	1548
36440MF125 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	MALE FEMALE THREADED STANDOFF, #	2952
13RS062586 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .250 ID, .625 OD,	3497
M2183-5008-SS RAF	8MM HEX X 8MM X M5 THD	799
1682-632-N RAF	1/4 RD X 3/8 LENGTH	470
13RSSR0032 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .090 ID, .250 OD,	1000
2166-632-SS RAF	5/16_HEX_FEMALE_STANDOFFS	987
970160154 Würth Elektronik Midcom	BRASS SPACER STUD METRIC THREAD	282
1648-440-AL RAF	RND STANDOFF #4-40 ALUM 1-3/16"	0
JSO-0415-01 Samtec, Inc.	JACK SCREW 4MM 4 PIECE	119
4574-1032-AL RAF	5/16 HEX X 7/16 LENGTH	400
2112-632-N RAF	HEX STANDOFF #6-32 NYLON 1"	651
M0619-5-N RAF	8MM RD X 30MM X 5.3MM ID	473
13SPRT047 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #4 SCRE	5000
1628-2 Keystone Electronics Corp.	HEX STANDOFF #4-40 BRASS 3/8"	9602100
1848 Keystone Electronics Corp.	ROUND STANDOFF #6-32 ALUM 7/8"	28832200
NAS1831A4B20 RAF	ALUMINUM 1/4 HEX FEMALE STANDOFF	0
M0944-A-3-AL RAF	6MM RD X 10MM X 3.2MM ID	1420
903-100 Califia Lighting (Bivar)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 2.54MM	0

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