Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
CBTS100A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 20MM	0
13RS075075 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .320 ID, .750 OD,	7800
13RSSR0018 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .090 ID, .188 OD,	1000
TN6-20-832-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND STANDOFF #8-32 NYLON 1-1/4"	163
13SP358 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .194 ID, .313 OD,	1990
13RS071820 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .526 ID, .718 OD,	1000
13RSSR0027 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .166 ID, .250 OD,	2000
13SP201 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	25000
13RS063564 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .635 ID, .913 OD,	995
13SP364 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .313 OD,	2000
005428059914 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #8 POLYSTYRENE 10MM	3640
MTS-20 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 20.1MM	2998
35HSP029 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, #4 SCR	1990
13RS075062 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .320 ID, .750 OD,	2000
SS10-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #10 PVC 1/4"	236
005425600014 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #8 POLYSTYRENE 8MM	3345
13SPRT070 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #6 SCRE	1000
CBMFTS345A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 35MM	1776
13RS087533 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .385 ID, .875 OD,	1000
13RS025011 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .171 ID, .250 OD,	2000

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