Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13RSSR0026 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .250 OD,	2890
35HSP401 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, #10 SC	2843
35HSP500 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, #6 SCR	1000
13SPRT118 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, 1/4 SCR	1000
13SP384 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .375 OD,	2000
13RS056256 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .245 ID, .555 OD,	1490
13RSSR0084 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .375 OD,	1000
36440MF037 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	MALE FEMALE THREADED STANDOFF, #	2641
13RS044074 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .145 ID, .437 OD,	500
13RSSR0095 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .315 ID, .500 OD,	500
13RSSR0198 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .252 ID, .625 OD,	1000
13RS064057 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .327 ID, .640 OD,	995
HSM4-8-15-3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M4 NYLON 15MM	181
13RSSR0043 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .166 ID, .250 OD,	1000
SS8-5L Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #8 PVC 5/8"	830
13RSSR0210 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .505 ID, .750 OD,	1387
13RS137521 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .766 ID, 1.375 OD,	500
13RS075059 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .173 ID, .750 OD,	300
SWI1570A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M5 NYLON 12.95MM	1745
13RS062594 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .340 ID, .625 OD,	500

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