Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
15TSP018 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #8-32 THREAD, .5	1970
13RS039343 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .248 ID, .394 OD,	5975
36M35MF020 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	MALE FEMALE THREADED STANDOFF, M	340
SWI2020A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M12 NYLON 3/8"	1725
13ME129 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 13.3MM ID, 25MM OD	1000
13RSSR0357 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 1.005 ID, 1.500 OD	250
14HTSP010 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX THREADED STANDOFF, #6-32 THR	9990
13RS018721 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .063 ID, .187 OD,	4990
CBTS020A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 7MM	3930
13RS061019 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .325 ID, .615 OD,	2000
HSM4-8-25-1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M4 NYLON 25MM	274
005243000005 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #2 ACETAL 5MM	3594
13RSSR0074 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .252 ID, .375 OD,	1750
13ME030 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 3.2MM ID, 6MM OD,	4980
13SP261 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	5000
13RSSR0306 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .192 ID, .500 OD,	250
R939-3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 3/16"	33682
36440MF125 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	MALE FEMALE THREADED STANDOFF, #	2952
13RS062586 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .250 ID, .625 OD,	3497
13RSSR0032 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .090 ID, .250 OD,	1000

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