Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13SP126 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	24500
13RSSR0140 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .252 ID, .625 OD,	1500
13RS025054 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .173 ID, .250 OD,	2375
13SP144 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	2000
13SPRT086 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #8 SCRE	2000
13SP351 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .115 ID, .313 OD,	1000
R911-3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 3/16"	968
SWI1930A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M9 NYLON 1/16"	9990
13SP221 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	1798
13SPRT061 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #6 SCRE	4500
13SP005 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	20418
CBMFTS335A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 30MM	260
13RSSR0110 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .380 ID, .500 OD,	500
13RSSR0115 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .315 ID, .500 OD,	500
13RSSR0080 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .166 ID, .375 OD,	1000
13ME020 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 3.2MM ID, 5MM OD,	4990
13SP056 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	19365
13SP138 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	5000
13RS062529 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .390 ID, .625 OD,	2370
005376800014 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 POLYSTYRENE 30MM	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