Spacers

Spacer + Stand-off Selection — Quick Reference

Spacers (stand-offs) = THREADED or UNTHREADED components maintaining PRECISE DISTANCE between mechanical/electronic assembly parts. Workshop + electronics + machinery assembly + PCB mounting standard.

Critical: Match spacer length + thread + material to job. Electronics applications need ELECTRICALLY INSULATING (plastic/nylon). Match thread spec to mating bolts/screws. Companion: fasteners, coupling nuts, screws.

Spacers and Stand-offs for Australian Mechanical and Electronic Assembly

Spacers (also called stand-offs) are the threaded or unthreaded components that maintain a precise distance between two surfaces in a mechanical or electronic assembly — separating circuit boards from chassis, holding panels at a specific stand-off, or providing the spacing between bearings in a stack. For Australian engineering, electronics manufacturing, and mechanical assembly, the right spacer ensures the assembly comes together at the designed dimensions. AIMS Industrial supplies spacers in the materials, sizes, and configurations Australian trade and industrial customers use.

The spacer types we stock

• Round threaded spacers (male-female) — threaded one end (male), tapped the other (female); for stacking with screws on both ends
• Round threaded spacers (female-female) — tapped both ends; receive screws from both sides
• Round unthreaded spacers (sleeve spacers) — plain bore, used over a through-bolt for distance control
• Hex spacers — hex outer profile for spanner engagement during installation; common in electronics
• Round shoulder spacers — combined spacer with bearing shoulder for rotating components

Materials and finishes

• Steel zinc-plated — the everyday choice for general mechanical assembly
• Stainless steel 304 and 316 — for corrosive and food-grade environments
• Aluminium — lightweight; common in electronics and aerospace assemblies
• Brass — non-magnetic; common in electronics and decorative applications
• Nylon (polyamide) — electrically insulating; standard for circuit board mounting

Where spacers earn their place

• Circuit board mounting — separating PCBs from metal chassis with insulating nylon spacers, or with grounded brass/steel spacers where electrical bonding is needed
• Panel mounting — holding panels at consistent stand-off from the substrate
• Bearing stack assembly — providing precise axial spacing between bearings or components on a shaft
• Multi-board electronic assemblies — stacking circuit boards at consistent spacing
• Mechanical adjustment — providing fixed-distance spacing in linkages and assemblies

Sizing — outer diameter, length, thread

Spacer sizing has multiple dimensions: outer diameter (OD), length (the spacing distance provided), inner diameter (for unthreaded), and thread size (for threaded). Common metric sizes:

• 3-5mm OD — small electronic and instrument assembly
• 6-8mm OD — general electronic and small mechanical assembly
• 10-12mm OD — larger electronic and small mechanical work
• 14-25mm OD — mechanical assembly and panel mounting

Length ranges from 3mm through 50mm and longer. Match all dimensions to the assembly drawing or existing component being replaced.

Threaded versus unthreaded spacers

• Threaded spacers — receive screws directly; the screw provides both the clamping force and the spacing
• Unthreaded (sleeve) spacers — fit over a through-bolt; the bolt passes through the spacer and threads into the far side

Threaded spacers are common in electronic stack assemblies where the spacer itself becomes part of the structural assembly. Unthreaded sleeve spacers are common in mechanical assemblies where a single through-bolt clamps the entire stack.

Brands stocked at AIMS

Spacers are stocked from quality manufacturers across the materials and sizes Australian trade and industrial customers use. For specialty sizes, custom lengths, or non-standard materials, sourcing through our distribution channels covers most options.

Companion ranges at AIMS

Spacers sit alongside our broader fastener range — see shoulder screws, socket countersunk screws, safety washers, and retaining washers for related products.

Need help speccing spacers for an electronic, mechanical, or assembly application? contact our team — we'll match by OD, length, thread, and material.

People Also Ask — Spacers

Q: What spacer material should I use for PCB or electronics mounting?

Nylon (polyamide) spacers are the standard choice where electrical isolation is needed — they're electrically insulating, which is why they're specified for separating circuit boards from a metal chassis. Where the design instead calls for the boards to be electrically bonded or grounded, brass or steel spacers are used in place of nylon.

Q: Should I use a threaded or unthreaded spacer for my assembly?

Threaded spacers receive a screw directly into each end, with the screw providing both the clamping force and the spacing — common in electronic stack assemblies where the spacer itself becomes part of the structural assembly. Unthreaded (sleeve) spacers instead fit over a through-bolt, which passes through the spacer and threads into the far side — the more common approach in mechanical assemblies where a single through-bolt clamps the entire stack.

Q: What's the difference between a hex spacer and a round spacer?

A hex spacer has a hex outer profile so a spanner can grip it during installation — common where electronics assembly needs the spacer held stationary while a screw is driven in. A round spacer has a plain cylindrical profile and is the standard choice for general mechanical and bolt-through applications where spanner engagement isn't needed.

Q: What stainless grade spacer do I need for an outdoor or food-grade application?

304 and 316 stainless spacers are stocked for corrosive and food-grade environments, as distinct from steel zinc-plated spacers (the everyday choice for general mechanical assembly indoors), aluminium (lightweight, common in electronics and aerospace assemblies) and brass (non-magnetic, common in electronics and decorative use).

Q: How do I work out what length spacer I need for a bearing stack or panel mount?

Match the spacer's outer diameter, length, inner diameter (for unthreaded types) and thread size (for threaded types) to the assembly drawing or the existing component being replaced. Spacer lengths run from 3mm through 50mm and longer, with outer diameters from around 3-5mm for small electronic and instrument work up to 14-25mm for mechanical assembly and panel mounting.