Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13RS050013 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .406 ID, .500 OD,	1000
CBTS105A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 22MM	704
13SP131 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .115 ID, .313 OD,	500
QM1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND STNDFF #6-32 NEOPRENE 7/16"	252
15TSP053 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #6-32 THREAD, 1.	2000
13RSSR0205 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .505 ID, .750 OD,	1500
13RS050017 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .265 ID, .500 OD,	2000
13SPRT073 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #6 SCRE	2000
13RS028440 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .224 ID, .284 OD,	1993
13ME075 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 6.3MM ID, 10MM OD,	2975
13RSSR0131 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .315 ID, .500 OD,	500
R911-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/8"	2035
13SP171 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	19875
R903-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/8"	4890
005289000005 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 ACETAL 15MM	787
13SP276 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	2000
13SP207 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	50008
R913-8 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/2"	0
NTS-17.5 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 11/16"	1755
15TSP106 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #4-40 THREAD, .2	1981

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