Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
NS-03-11 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	NON THREADED SPACER - PLASTIC,NS	1996
13RSSR0058 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .312 OD,	1000
13SP223 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	8000
13SP190 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	19725
13SP118 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	24671
13SP200 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .375 OD,	3000
13RS040671 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .311 ID, .406 OD,	500
R903-3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 3/16"	4975
13ME100 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 10.4MM ID, 15MM OD	5000
13RS037517 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .219 ID, .375 OD,	1846
R901-1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/16"	2879
15TSP041 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #8-32 THREAD, .8	1999
13SPRT100 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #10 SCR	1500
HTSN-M4-13-8-1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M4 NYLON 13MM	1474
13SP372 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .375 OD,	1000
13RSSR0023 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .166 ID, .250 OD,	0
13SP350 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .194 ID, .313 OD,	3000
13SPRT101 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #10 SCR	1000
13RS125076 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .443 ID, 1.250 OD,	250
13RS014536 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .078 ID, .144 OD,	2522

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