Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
NS-03-02 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	NON THREADED SPACER - PLASTIC,NS	2000
13SP075 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .091 ID, .250 OD,	490
MSW1350A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M20 NYLON 1.5MM	0
13RSSR0149 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .315 ID, .625 OD,	500
005468059914 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND SPACER #10 POLYSTYRENE 20MM	2000
13RS060552 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .325 ID, .600 OD,	500
R912-1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/16"	6658
13RS231252 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 1.945 ID, 2.750 OD	250
R904-1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/16"	11903
13ME021 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 3.2MM ID, 5MM OD,	4745
15TSP101 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #4-40 THREAD, .2	2840
13RS028030 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .170 ID, .280 OD,	1998
13RS075071 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .510 ID, .750 OD,	4000
13SPRT060 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #4 SCRE	1995
13RS050096 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .260 ID, .500 OD,	2000
TN6-36-832-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND STANDOFF #8-32 NYLON 2-1/4"	148
15TSP021 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #10-32 THREAD, .	1975
13SP247 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	24994
35HSP015 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, #8 SCR	2000
13RS037512 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .194 ID, .375 OD,	4900

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