Wexmar provides custom standoff machining for electronics, electrical, instrumentation and equipment builders that need standoffs outside catalog lengths, threads or materials. Our Canastota, New York shop produces CNC machined standoffs on Swiss-type machines and CNC lathes, in round and hex forms, male-female, female-female and male-male.
What standoffs do and who buys them
A standoff holds one component a set distance from another. It spaces circuit boards from a chassis, mounts panels and covers, supports sensors and displays, and isolates parts electrically or thermally. Catalog standoffs cover common thread and length combinations, but many assemblies need an odd length, a mixed thread pair, a shoulder or pilot, a non-standard material, or a length tolerance tighter than catalog parts provide. Buyers include electrical and connector manufacturers, control panel and switchgear builders, instrumentation and test equipment companies, medical hardware suppliers, aerospace hardware programs and defense electronics builders.
How we machine CNC standoffs
Standoffs up to 32 mm across are run on our four Maier MLK-32 Swiss-type machines with FMB bar feeders. We load round or hex bar, and the Swiss machine drills, taps or threads each end, turns shoulders and pilots, and parts off in one cycle. Back-working on the sub-spindle finishes the second end, so both threads are concentric and the overall length is held tightly. The Swiss machines can run lights-out, which suits the high quantities standoffs are often ordered in. See Swiss machining.
Larger standoffs, spacer columns and heavy-duty support posts are turned on our Mazak and Doosan CNC lathes. The Multiplex 6300Y twin-spindle machine completes both ends in one cycle. Live tooling adds cross holes, wrench flats or knurls. See CNC turning.
Standoff materials
- Aluminum: 6061-T6 and 2011 for light, conductive standoffs, often anodized or chem-filmed.
- Brass: C36000 for conductive standoffs, often nickel or tin plated.
- Stainless: 303 and 316 for strength and corrosion resistance.
- Steel: 12L14 and 1018, usually zinc plated.
- Plastics: nylon, acetal, PEEK and G-10 alternatives for electrical isolation.
- Others: titanium, copper and phosphor bronze.
Critical standoff features and how we hold them
- Overall length: faced on both ends in one Swiss cycle to hold board spacing.
- Threads: UNC, UNF and metric, male or female, to 2A/2B or 6g/6H, with full thread depth checked by plug gage.
- Thread concentricity: both ends cut in one machine cycle so fasteners align without side load.
- Hex across-flats: held for standard sockets and nut drivers.
- End squareness: ends faced perpendicular to the thread axis so boards sit flat.
Typical tolerances and finishes
| Feature | Typical tolerance | Tighter on request |
|---|---|---|
| Overall length | ±0.005 in | ±0.001 in |
| Threads | 2A / 2B | 3A / 3B |
| Hex across-flats | ±0.003 in | ±0.001 in |
| Shoulder / pilot diameter | ±0.002 in | ±0.0005 in |
| End face perpendicularity | 0.002 in | 0.001 in |
| Surface finish | 63 Ra | 32 Ra |
Secondary operations
Anodizing, chem film, nickel, tin and zinc plating, and passivation are performed through qualified outside processors. When plating or anodizing is specified on threaded standoffs, we plan thread sizes so they gage correctly after finishing. Packaging in counted bags with labels is available for kitting.
Quantity patterns
Standoffs are often ordered in quantities from a few hundred to tens of thousands. Short prototype runs of 25 to 100 are common during board development. Blanket orders with scheduled releases suit our lights-out Swiss capacity, and we keep programs on file for repeat part numbers.
Inspection
Threads are checked with calibrated go/no-go gages, length with micrometers and height gages, and shoulders and chamfers on our Mitsubishi optical comparator. Sampling plans follow your drawing or a standard AQL. AS9102-format first articles, material certs and lot traceability are available. See inspection and quality.
Getting a quote
Send a drawing or spec with thread sizes, length, form, material, finish and quantity. You can upload a drawing for an instant estimate, and an estimator will confirm pricing. Or call (315) 400-2654. Related: custom spacers.