Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
NTS-25 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 25MM	0
13SPRT090 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #8 SCRE	2000
HSM4-8-20-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M4 NYLON 20MM	362
005274000005 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 ACETAL 2MM	1602
005372459914 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 POLYSTYRENE 8MM	1682
005456000014 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #10 POLYSTYRENE 5MM	4564
13SP206 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	5000
35HSP037 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, #4 SCR	1000
MSW1190A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M6 NYLON 2MM	0
SS8-3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #8 PVC 3/8"	3803
15TSP201 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #10-24 THREAD, 1	440
13SP134 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	20000
13RS042701 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .256 ID, .433 OD,	651
13RSSR0139 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .192 ID, .625 OD,	970
MSW1050A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #12 NYLON 10MM	464
13RS075015 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .145 ID, .750 OD,	500
13RSSR0173 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .192 ID, .625 OD,	1000
13RS025065 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .160 ID, .250 OD,	990
R904-6 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 3/8"	6551
13SP270 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	4562

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