Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13RS075010 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .280 ID, .750 OD,	2975
13RS018712 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .091 ID, .187 OD,	4813
13RS100052 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .469 ID, 1.000 OD,	1000
13SP149 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	4490
35HSP039 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, #4 SCR	1830
005286000005 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 ACETAL 10MM	7715
13SP366 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .194 ID, .313 OD,	2000
13SP344 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .313 OD,	1000
13RS031260 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .250 ID, .313 OD,	2775
13RSSR0059 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .166 ID, .312 OD,	1000
14HTSP018 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX THREADED STANDOFF, #8-32 THR	1000
TN6-16-832-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF #8-32 NYLON 1"	0
R911-4 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/4"	6297
13RS051063 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .281 ID, .500 OD,	475
13RSSR0093 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .315 ID, .500 OD,	900
13SP079 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	3000
13ME105 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 10.4MM ID, 15MM OD	4995
13RS066851 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .350 ID, .670 OD,	500
13SPRT035 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #2 SCRE	1988
HSM4-8-30-3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M4 NYLON 30MM	250

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