Board Spacers, Standoffs

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
35MHSP020 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	HEX SELF THREAD STANDOFF, M4 SCR	950
13RSSR0320 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .192 ID, .625 OD,	250
13RS112027 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 1.015 ID, 1.120 OD	2000
13RSSR0343 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .380 ID, .750 OD,	250
13SP226 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	4490
13RSSR0181 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .192 ID, .625 OD,	500
13RS048421 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .320 ID, .486 OD,	2490
13SP140 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .313 OD,	2000
13SP072 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	14490
13RS038035 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .285 ID, .385 OD,	2900
13SP187 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	3000
36440MF060 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	MALE FEMALE THREADED STANDOFF, #	1975
13SP267 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	24500
13ME025 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, 3.2MM ID, 5MM OD,	2895
13RSSR0052 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .140 ID, .312 OD,	1000
13RS037558 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .250 ID, .375 OD,	1000
MSW1110A Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER #14 NYLON 10MM	0
13SP177 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND THROUGH SPACER, NATURAL, N	21834
13RS031248 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND SPACER, .218 ID, .312 OD,	1000
15TSP009 Richco, Inc. (Essentra Components)	ROUND STANDOFF, #6-32 THREAD, .7	3478

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