Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13RSSR0145 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .315 ID, .625 OD,	0
13RS014534 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .069 ID, .125 OD,	1990
CBMFTS205A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 5MM	18747
HTS4-4-48 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF #4-40 NYLON 1/4"	2600
13RSSR0134 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .380 ID, .500 OD,	500
13SP227 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	25573
005434000014 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #8 POLYSTYRENE 20MM	2817
005240000005 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #2 ACETAL 3MM	2587
13SP237 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	45561
13RS062537 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .342 ID, .625 OD,	5000
SS8-4 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #8 PVC 1/2"	3923
14HTSP225 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX THREADED STANDOFF, #6-32 THR	0
SS6-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #6 PVC 1/4"	2832
13RS025017 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .150 ID, .254 OD,	1310
13ME012 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 2.6MM ID, 5MM OD,	4764
13SP133 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	9990
14HTSP120 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX THREADED STANDOFF, #6-32 THR	0
15TSP024 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #10-32 THREAD, .	1975
14HTSP103 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX THREADED STANDOFF, #4-40 THR	3542
005150059914 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #2 POLYSTYRENE 2MM	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