Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13RS025057 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .171 ID, .250 OD,	2000
13RS043726 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .312 ID, .437 OD,	1190
HNSM3-20-5.5-1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 20MM	977
005423259914 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #8 POLYSTYRENE 6MM	3337
13RS077532 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .705 ID, .797 OD,	490
13SPRT120 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, 1/4 SCR	1000
005372859914 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 POLYSTYRENE 10MM	3736
13RS040660 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .267 ID, .406 OD,	500
13RSSR0187 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .315 ID, .625 OD,	500
13RS044150 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .220 ID, .438 OD,	1000
13RS037548 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .203 ID, .375 OD,	1990
005295059905 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 ACETAL 25MM	2987
TN10-20-1/420-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND STNDFF 1/4"-20 NYLON 1-1/4"	122
13SPRT036 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #2 SCRE	1495
005372000014 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 POLYSTYRENE 6MM	6214
13RS036034 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .312 ID, .363 OD,	4980
35HSP001 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, #4 SCR	1965
CBTS060A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 1/2"	1783
NTS-16 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 16MM	6765
13RSSR0087 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .218 ID, .375 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