Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13SP091 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	9774
NS-03-16 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 11.5MM	956
14MMHTSP025 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX THREADED STANDOFF, M4 THREAD	1000
13RS025055 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .250 OD,	1000
MTS-12 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 12MM	6885
CBTS015A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 6MM	2059
TN4-16-632-1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF #6-32 NYLON 1"	1000
13RS100057 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .250 ID, 1.18 OD,	1000
13RS100053 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .510 ID, 1.000 OD,	990
13RS059032 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .319 ID, .590 OD,	1890
13SP243 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	10000
13RS100043 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .406 ID, 1.000 OD,	2000
13SP321 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .250 OD,	1988
13RSSR0241 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .755 ID, 1.500 OD,	1000
SS1/4-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M6 PVC 1/4"	2474
13RS050011 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .244 ID, .500 OD,	2000
13RS036032 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .252 ID, .360 OD,	11400
R908-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/8"	2517
13SP185 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	5000
14HTSP003 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX THREADED STANDOFF, #4-40 THR	7834

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