Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13ME081 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 6.5MM ID, 15MM OD,	2996
13RS037520 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .219 ID, .375 OD,	5000
13SP386 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .194 ID, .375 OD,	1000
13SP216 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	0
13RSSR0152 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .252 ID, .625 OD,	1000
36M35MF016 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	MALE FEMALE THREADED STANDOFF, M	1000
13RS031001 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .253 ID, .303 OD,	4900
SS10-10 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #10 PVC 1-1/4"	11395
35HSP112 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, #2 SCR	11523
35MHSP018 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, M4 SCR	808
13RS132056 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 1.031 ID, 1.320 OD	1000
14HTSP102 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX THREADED STANDOFF, #4-40 THR	4000
13RSSR0006 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .090 ID, .125 OD,	3000
13RS048017 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .323 ID, .472 OD,	1000
15TSP099 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #4-40 THREAD, .1	955
R903-4 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/4"	5000
13SP336 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .313 OD,	1000
CBTS010A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 5MM	6638
MSW1010A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M4 NYLON 10MM	566
13RS087553 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .650 ID, .880 OD,	1000

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