Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13RS062522 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .435 ID, .625 OD,	500
13RS100059 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .517 ID, 1.000 OD,	1000
36832MF062 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	MALE FEMALE THREADED STANDOFF, #	1900
13SP255 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	19973
13SP107 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	4000
MSW1160A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M6 NYLON 1/2"	0
13RSSR0071 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .166 ID, .375 OD,	2000
13RS050088 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .260 ID, .500 OD,	3497
HS-4-6 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SPACER #4 CPVC 3/4"	382
CBTS090A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 18MM	783
13RS075070 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .510 ID, .750 OD,	4000
13RS037534 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .375 OD,	2000
005243059905 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #2 ACETAL 5MM	3230
SS4-8 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 PVC 1"	1823
14MMHTSP004 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	NYLON HEXAGONAL M3 FEMALE TO FEM	2000
HNSM3-30-5.5-1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 30MM	678
HTSN-M4-10-8-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M4 NYLON 10MM	1202
13SP160 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	22489
SS4-5 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 PVC 5/8"	2936
R939-6 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 3/8"	3850

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