Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13ME031 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 3.2MM ID, 6MM OD,	3682
35HSP106 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, #6 SCR	2000
13RS062331 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .311 ID, .623 OD,	500
13SP054 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	25000
13ME023 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 3.2MM ID, 5MM OD,	2890
13RSSR0100 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .380 ID, .500 OD,	500
13SP376 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .171 ID, .375 OD,	2000
13RS031221 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .195 ID, .312 OD,	2000
R938-4 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/4"	4019
13RSSR0160 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .315 ID, .625 OD,	0
13RS024014 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .175 ID, .245 OD,	1975
13SP385 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .171 ID, .375 OD,	1000
13RSSR0340 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .380 ID, .750 OD,	246
15TSP102 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #4-40 THREAD, .3	1947
13SP108 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	14960
13RS025020 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .205 ID, .250 OD,	4250
13RSSR0005 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .064 ID, .125 OD,	865
R911-5 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 5/16"	3486
13RS057032 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .320 ID, .570 OD,	1990
13ME080 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 6.5MM ID, 15MM OD,	1859

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