Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13RS081224 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .403 ID, .812 OD,	990
005453059914 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #10 POLYSTYRENE 3MM	1285
13RSSR0183 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .315 ID, .625 OD,	500
13RS087540 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .265 ID, .875 OD,	500
R938-7 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 7/16"	5730
005371459914 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 POLYSTYRENE 3MM	2366
15TSP007 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #6-32 THREAD, .3	3953
13SP069 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	15000
13SP053 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	25112
14HTSP015 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX THREADED STANDOFF, #8-32 THR	4500
13RS099001 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .730 ID, .993 OD,	1970
13SPRT037 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #2 SCRE	2000
MSW1260A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M8 NYLON 2MM	0
13RS075027 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .313 ID, .750 OD,	1000
13SP046 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	19650
MSW1130A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M6 NYLON 1MM	0
CBSS175A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	SELF RETAINING SPACER, .234 IN T	982
TNM3-6.5-13-1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF M3 NYLON 13MM	519
SS3/8-3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M9 PVC 3/8"	1892
13RS028039 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .130 ID, .280 OD,	5000

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