Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
35HSP042 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, #8 SCR	1990
13SP218 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	8600
13RS100026 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .250 ID, 1.000 OD,	1400
13RS062547 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .315 ID, .625 OD,	2000
13RS125500 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .307 ID, 1.240 OD,	2000
CBSS050A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	SELF RETAINING SPACER, .187 IN T	1745
13SP363 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .115 ID, .313 OD,	1000
13RS037523 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .257 ID, .375 OD,	4990
005372059914 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 POLYSTYRENE 6MM	4578
13RS075017 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .490 ID, .750 OD,	1000
13RS025023 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .134 ID, .250 OD,	4974
13RS042700 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .182 ID, .427 OD,	1500
SS8-6 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #8 PVC 3/4"	3400
005434059914 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #8 POLYSTYRENE 20MM	970
36632MF150 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	MALE FEMALE THREADED STANDOFF, #	2000
13SPRT044 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #2 SCRE	1000
13RS087551 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .265 ID, .875 OD,	990
R906-4 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/4"	5723
13SP047 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	4990
13SP074 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	14000

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