Round Stainless Steel Spacers

Round Stainless Steel Spacers are precision-engineered components designed to maintain consistent spacing between two objects or surfaces, providing structural support and ensuring mechanical alignment. Manufactured from high-grade stainless steel alloys such as austenitic (304, 316) and martensitic (410, 420), these spacers offer excellent corrosion resistance, durability, and mechanical strength. Their round shape allows uniform load distribution, making them ideal for demanding, high-stress applications across multiple industries.

Key Features and Technical Data

• Material Grades: Commonly made from 304, 316, and 17-4PH stainless steel, with tensile strengths ranging from 515 MPa to 1,100 MPa and hardness levels from HRB 80 to HRC 40.

• Corrosion Resistance: 316-grade spacers provide outstanding resistance to chloride corrosion with a pitting resistance equivalent number (PREN) > 25, suitable for marine and chemical environments.

• Temperature Tolerance: Operable in wide ranges from -200°C to 800°C depending on stainless steel grade, with specialty grades like 321 capable of intermittent exposure up to 1,200°C.

• Dimensional Precision: Machined to tight tolerances of ±0.025 mm ensuring accurate fits in assemblies.

• Surface Finish: Electropolished surfaces achieve Ra ≤ 0.4 µm, meeting requirements for cleanroom and Medical environments.

• Load Capacity: Designed to withstand static loads up to 5,000 N for larger sizes such as M12 spacers.

Applications

Industrial Machinery

• Used to maintain precise impeller clearances in pumps, with 316L spacers resisting acidic fluids (pH 2-11).

Electronics

• Prevent PCB warping in high-vibration environments; non-magnetic 304 stainless steel spacers meet MIL-STD-202G shock standards.

Automotive

• Applied in turbocharger heat shields where 321-grade spacers endure intermittent heat up to 1,200°C.

Medical Devices

• Passivated 316LVM spacers comply with ISO 13485 standards for MRI-compatible surgical instruments and devices.

Aerospace

• Precision-ground spacers in landing gear systems conform to AMS 5643 specifications for high reliability.

Maintenance Procedures

Cleaning

• Use ultrasonic cleaning with 5% citric acid solution at 60°C for 15 minutes to remove oxide and contaminants effectively.

Lubrication

• For threaded spacers under cyclic loading, apply a thin film of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) lubricant to reduce wear and galling.

Inspection

• Regularly inspect for surface pitting deeper than 0.1 mm and diameter wear exceeding 0.5% of nominal size to prevent failure.

Storage

• Store spacers in VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor) paper packaging with relative humidity below 40% to prevent chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking.

Installation Best Practices

• Use torque wrenches calibrated to ±3% accuracy for consistent assembly.

• Recommended torque for M6 spacers is 10 Nm ±5%.

• Apply thread locker in ambient temperatures below 25°C to ensure optimal curing and joint security.

Failure Analysis

• Galvanic Corrosion: Occurs when stainless steel spacers contact aluminum with potential differences exceeding 0.15V.

• Fatigue Fractures: Result from cyclic loads exceeding 30% of yield strength, leading to premature failure.

• Creep Deformation: Happens when spacers are subjected to sustained loads above 50% yield strength at temperatures over 300°C.

Industry Standards

• ASTM A276: Material certification standard for stainless steel products.

• DIN 988: Defines dimensional tolerances and standards for spacers.

• RoHS 2011/65/EU: Compliance ensuring no hazardous substances are present, crucial for electronics applications.

Technical Specifications Table

FAQ

Q1: What stainless steel grades are commonly used for round spacers?
A1: The most common grades are 304, 316, and 17-4PH, each offering different strength and corrosion resistance suited for various applications.

Q2: What are the typical dimensional tolerances for these spacers?
A2: They are machined to tight tolerances, typically within ±0.025 mm to ensure precise fitting.

Q3: Can these spacers withstand high temperatures?
A3: Yes, depending on the grade, they can operate from -200°C to 800°C, with specialty grades like 321 handling up to 1,200°C intermittently.

Q4: How should I maintain and clean stainless steel spacers?
A4: Use ultrasonic cleaning with mild citric acid solutions, avoid abrasive materials, and store them in low humidity environments.

Q5: Are these spacers suitable for medical and aerospace use?
A5: Absolutely. Passivated 316LVM spacers meet ISO 13485 standards for medical use, and precision-ground spacers comply with AMS 5643 for aerospace.