Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
CBMFTS160A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF #6-32 NYLON 3/4"	3066
13RS100020 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .187 ID, .990 OD,	1000
13RSSR0206 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .315 ID, .750 OD,	2000
NTS-12 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 1/2"	3467
13RSSR0194 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .252 ID, .625 OD,	1000
CBMFTS330A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 1-1/16"	2657
13RSSR0178 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .252 ID, .625 OD,	1000
005373259914 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 POLYSTYRENE 12MM	0
005258059905 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #2 ACETAL 25MM	1989
HSM4-8-25-3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M4 NYLON 25MM	0
13RSSR0041 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .115 ID, .250 OD,	1000
HSM4-8-30-1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M4 NYLON 30MM	400
MFTS6-5-48 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF #6-32 NYLON 5/16"	3275
13SP050 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	20460
005474000014 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND SPACER #10 POLYSTYRENE 30MM	3648
13RS040087 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .200 ID, .430 OD,	2000
13RS062573 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .386 ID, .625 OD,	1500
13RS125387 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .380 ID, 1.250 OD,	3000
005423200014 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #8 POLYSTYRENE 6MM	872
13ME015 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 2.6MM ID, 5MM OD,	900

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