Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13RSSR0244 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 1.000 ID, 1.500 OD	1000
R906-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/8"	6407
MTS-10 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 10.5MM	668
13SP388 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .171 ID, .375 OD,	2000
HS-6-8 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SPACER #6 CPVC 1"	1199
SS4-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 PVC 1/4"	2339
005372400014 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 POLYSTYRENE 8MM	3225
13SP033 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	49661
13RS025059 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .250 OD,	4500
13RS062571 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .450 ID, .625 OD,	2000
35MHSP008 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, M4 SCR	1965
MSW1120A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M6 NYLON 15MM	0
005240059905 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #2 ACETAL 3MM	296
13SP213 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	9500
13ME002 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 2.6MM ID, 4MM OD,	3361
13RS077531 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .434 ID, .770 OD,	1000
13RS062583 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .434 ID, .634 OD,	1500
R906-3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 3/16"	5524
R905-8 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/2"	968
13RS071823 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .524 ID, .709 OD,	500

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