Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13RSSR0045 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .166 ID, .312 OD,	2000
13RS025051 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .171 ID, .250 OD,	4900
TN6-16-832-1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF #8-32 NYLON 1"	1199
13RSSR0122 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .380 ID, .500 OD,	500
13RS100009 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .530 ID, 1.000 OD,	2000
13RS031211 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .194 ID, .312 OD,	1000
13RS034005 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .279 ID, .340 OD,	1999
13RSSR0106 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .380 ID, .500 OD,	500
13SP035 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	8000
186502070409 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SPACER M5 POLY (PEEK) 20MM	153
13RS100055 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .950 ID, 1.080 OD,	1000
13SP300 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .115 ID, .250 OD,	1000
13RS100050 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .755 ID, 1.000 OD,	2000
13RS050085 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .281 ID, .500 OD,	2000
13SP023 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .091 ID, .188 OD,	500
13RS106212 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .740 ID, 1.055 OD,	1000
MSW1200A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M6 NYLON 3MM	0
13SP010 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	19020
13RSSR0037 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .115 ID, .250 OD,	1900
TN6-36-832-1 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND STANDOFF #8-32 NYLON 2-1/4"	71

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