Overview
A 120-piece M3 standoff (hex copper pillar) and screw assortment, organised in a labelled plastic case. Use these to space PCBs above an enclosure floor, stack two boards into a sandwich (Pi + HAT, Arduino + shield), mount a heatsink or a fan, or build any kind of mechanical bracket where a clean, threaded brass spacer is the right answer.
The kit includes male-to-female pillars in multiple lengths (the most common for stacking), female-to-female pillars (for between-board spacing without a screw on top), and the matching M3 screws and nuts. Brass / copper-plated steel construction means they're strong, conductive (useful for grounding), and don't rust. The hex shape lets you tighten with pliers or a small spanner instead of a Phillips driver.
Use this for Raspberry Pi cases, Arduino-shield stacks, robot frames, instrument panel mounts, drone PCBs, lab fixtures, or anywhere you need to lift one board off another by a fixed distance.
At a Glance
Total Pieces
120
Thread Size
M3 (3 mm metric)
Material
Brass / copper-plated
Hex Width
~5 mm across flats
Includes
Pillars, screws, nuts
Storage
Labelled plastic case
Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
| Total Pieces | 120 |
| Thread | M3 (3 mm diameter, metric coarse) |
| Hex Width Across Flats | ~5 mm (fits a 5 mm spanner or small adjustable) |
| Body Material | Brass / copper-plated steel |
| Finish | Polished copper / brass |
| Standoff Lengths | Typically 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25 mm (varies by kit) |
| Standoff Types | Male-to-female (M-F) and female-to-female (F-F) |
| Screw Length | Typically 5-8 mm M3 cheesehead or pan-head |
| Nuts | M3 hex nuts |
| Storage | Plastic case with labelled compartments |
Standoff Types
| Type | Description | Use Case |
| Male-to-Female (M-F) | Threaded male stud on one end, threaded female socket on the other | Stacking PCBs — the male stud goes into a board hole and is secured with a nut on the other side; the female end accepts another stud or screw |
| Female-to-Female (F-F) | Both ends are threaded sockets | The middle of a stack — takes a screw from one board and a stud from another, or two screws (one each end) |
| Hex Nut | Standard M3 hex nut, ~5.5 mm flats | Locking a male stud through a board, or as a replacement for the kit's screw nuts |
| Pan-head Screw | M3 × 5-8 mm | Securing the top of a stack, or fastening a panel to a standoff |
Common Use Cases
| Application | Recommended Pillar |
|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 4/5 mounted in a 3D-printed case | 4× M-F 8 mm or 10 mm pillars + 4× M3 screws |
| Arduino Mega + shield stacking | 4× M-F 12 mm pillars + nuts |
| Two PCBs sandwiched at fixed spacing | 4× F-F (length = desired gap) + screws on top & bottom |
| 40×40 mm fan mounted on a 3D-print case | 4× M-F 5 mm or 6 mm pillars |
| OLED display held above a sensor PCB | 4× F-F 6 mm + 8 screws |
| Drone flight controller stack (FC + ESC + LED) | M-F 10-15 mm pillars between layers |
| Single-board fastening to mounting plate | 4× M-F pillars (any length); screw into base plate, screw board onto top |
Tip: Brass/copper standoffs conduct electricity. If you want them to act as a chassis-ground bridge between PCB and enclosure, use them metal-to-metal. If you want isolation (some PCBs need it), use nylon standoffs or add a fibre/plastic washer.
Common M3 Hardware Reference
| Item | Standard Size |
| M3 thread pitch (coarse) | 0.5 mm/turn |
| M3 hex nut width across flats | 5.5 mm (4 mm small, 5.5 mm regular) |
| M3 screw clearance hole | 3.2 - 3.5 mm (drill bit: 1/8" or 3.2 mm) |
| M3 tapped hole drill size | 2.5 mm (drill, then tap) |
| M3 socket head cap screw allen key | 2.5 mm hex |
| M3 pan/cheesehead Phillips | PH1 cross-driver |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will these fit Arduino mounting holes?
Yes — Arduino Uno R3, Mega 2560, and most Arduino-compatible boards use M3 mounting holes. The Pi 4 / 5 also uses M3, as do most ESP32 dev boards and shield kits.
Can I cut a longer standoff to make a custom length?
In a pinch, yes — brass cuts cleanly with a hobby saw or hacksaw. Sand the cut end smooth and try not to deform the threads. For repeated custom lengths it's better to buy the right length, but for a one-off it works fine.
My standoff threads keep stripping. What's wrong?
Brass is softer than steel. Cross-threading or over-tightening damages the threads. Tighten by hand or with light spanner pressure only — if you need a torque wrench you're going too hard. For applications where strip-resistance matters use steel standoffs instead.
Are these copper or brass?
Brass body with a copper-coloured plating finish. Brass alone gives a yellow-green colour; the visible copper-pink tint is the plating. Both are conductive and corrosion-resistant for indoor use.
Will these work in a 3D-printed enclosure?
Yes — you can either heat-set them into PLA/ABS (use a soldering iron at low temperature to melt them in), drop them into a printed-in pocket and trap them with a screw, or thread directly into the 3D-printed plastic with the M-F's male end (use a pilot hole sized for the M3 thread + 0.2 mm).
Are these ESD-safe?
For metal-to-metal mounting, brass standoffs do not introduce static-charge problems. They're conductive, so charges drain to ground (assuming the enclosure is grounded). For sensitive parts, follow normal ESD-handling protocols regardless of the mounting hardware.