Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13RSSR0008 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .090 ID, .125 OD,	475
TN10-20-1/420-3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND STNDFF 1/4"-20 NYLON 1-1/4"	144
13RS014529 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .047 ID, .125 OD,	9990
QM3T Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND STANDOFF #8-32 NEOPRENE 1/2"	449
35HSP400 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, 1/4 SC	1000
QM4T Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND STANDOFF #8-32 NEOPRENE 1/2"	363
005371659914 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 POLYSTYRENE 4MM	5040
TN6-40-832-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND STANDOFF #8-32 NYLON 2-1/2"	774
15TSP033 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, 1/4-20 THREAD, .	1875
13RS031245 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .195 ID, .312 OD,	2000
13RS031253 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .187 ID, .313 OD,	1996
13RS025010 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .153 ID, .250 OD,	2800
13SP106 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	14800
13RS062592 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .205 ID, .630 OD,	500
SWI1860A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M9 NYLON 1.65MM	10026
13SP104 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	15000
R904-8 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 1/2"	975
R905-3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 3/16"	3808
35HSP116 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, #4 SCR	960
TNM3-6.5-75-2 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF M3 NYLON 75MM	61

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