Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13SP094 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	23970
SS8-6L Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #8 PVC 3/4"	4161
13ME110 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 10.4MM ID, 22MM OD	5000
005371400014 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 POLYSTYRENE 3MM	3331
13RS075035 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .245 ID, .750 OD,	1000
13RS031249 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .194 ID, .312 OD,	1673
005465059914 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND SPACER #10 POLYSTYRENE 15MM	4601
13SP179 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	4000
SWI1550A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M4 NYLON 1"	2412
13ME122 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 13.3MM ID, 18MM OD	1985
13RSSR0239 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .505 ID, 1.000 OD,	1000
13RSSR0180 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .380 ID, .625 OD,	500
13SP345 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .171 ID, .313 OD,	2000
005249059905 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #2 ACETAL 10MM	2540
13RS031223 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .118 ID, .315 OD,	1000
13RSSR0172 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .380 ID, .625 OD,	1500
36M40MF011 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	MALE FEMALE THREADED STANDOFF, M	968
R913-5 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 5/16"	1624
13RS022013 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .138 ID, .220 OD,	2348
13ME098 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 8.3MM ID, 18MM OD,	6152

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