Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13RS050046 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .312 ID, .500 OD,	1000
13SPRT089 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #8 SCRE	2000
13SP169 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	17497
13RS050031 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .382 ID, .500 OD,	1975
13RS040086 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .165 ID, .315 OD,	1990
R912-3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 3/16"	5194
13SP320 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .115 ID, .250 OD,	1000
13SP211 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	4980
CBTS075A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 15MM	590
13SP340 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .313 OD,	1900
005261059905 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #2 ACETAL 30MM	1958
13SP020 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .115 ID, .188 OD,	2975
TN6-20-832-1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND STANDOFF #8-32 NYLON 1-1/4"	375
13RS046319 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .190 ID, .463 OD,	2000
13RS063052 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .210 ID, .656 OD,	500
13SP146 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	4500
13RS062591 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .350 ID, .630 OD,	500
MSW1090A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #14 NYLON 7.5MM	0
13RS075020 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .250 ID, .740 OD,	3597
13RS057033 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .312 ID, .589 OD,	1000

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