Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13RS014532 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .063 ID, .156 OD,	1500
13RS050028 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .312 ID, .500 OD,	2000
R912-5 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 5/16"	17555
13SP181 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	9757
MTNSP-M3-10-1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 10MM	176
13SP159 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	15000
13SP349 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .171 ID, .313 OD,	2000
36M30MF011 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	MALE FEMALE THREADED STANDOFF, M	629
13RSSR0121 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .315 ID, .500 OD,	500
13SP026 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	7650
13SP339 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .115 ID, .313 OD,	1000
13RSSR0311 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .166 ID, .500 OD,	250
13RSSR0177 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .192 ID, .625 OD,	500
SS10-4 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #10 PVC 1/2"	2659
13ME083 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 6.5MM ID, 15MM OD,	2000
13RSSR0233 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .505 ID, 1.000 OD,	3000
13RS050070 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .316 ID, .500 OD,	3000
SS8-3L Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #8 PVC 3/8"	5298
14HTSP027 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX THREADED STANDOFF, #2-56 THR	1955
13RS100066 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .830 ID, 1.050 OD,	334

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