Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
13SPRT053 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, RETAINING, #4 SCRE	1925
13RSSR0192 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .380 ID, .625 OD,	1000
QM2T Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND STNDFF #6-32 NEOPRENE 7/16"	0
13RS099000 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .730 ID, .993 OD,	500
36M30MF010 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	MALE FEMALE THREADED STANDOFF, M	164
R904-3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 3/16"	2764
13SP161 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	14990
36440MF175 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	MALE FEMALE THREADED STANDOFF, #	2000
R907-7 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER NYLON 7/16"	13925
005298059905 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #4 ACETAL 30MM	1900
13RS025016 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .188 ID, .250 OD,	7750
36M30MF020 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	MALE FEMALE THREADED STANDOFF, M	972
35HSP115 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, #2 SCR	2782
13RS125751 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .390 ID, 1.250 OD,	3500
SWI1880A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER M9 NYLON 3/8"	2989
13ME127 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 13.3MM ID, 25MM OD	1975
15TSP027 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #10-32 THREAD, .	2000
TN6-20-832-3 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	RND STANDOFF #8-32 NYLON 1-1/4"	500
35MHSP004 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, M3 SCR	1134
13RS037590 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .265 ID, .375 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