bisco Expands Online Catalog by Over 2.5 Million Products
Your One-Stop-Shop
Over the past six months bisco industries has added over 2.5 million products to its online catalog. The expansion of our online catalog provides engineers and purchasing agents with additional flexibility to find solutions for current and upcoming projects. Users can now search and filter newly added products by part number, product description, dimensions, and many other attributes.
What is a Standoff?
Standoff Fastener Description
Standoffs are fasteners used to create space between printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies and are the standard fastener for mounting PCBs to prevent electrical shorts. Standoffs are similar to spacers but differ in that they are threaded.
Standoff Fastener Styles
Standoffs may be cylindrical, square or hexagonal in shape and come in male, female, male-male, or male-female styles. Standoffs are fabricated from various materials such as aluminum, brass, stainless steel and nylon. In addition, standoffs are often plated to meet application specific requirements.
Standoff Fastener Application Example
One application example for standoffs is the fastening of a motherboard (PCB) to a metal enclosure. In a typical scenario, male-female standoffs are fastened into pre-drilled metal ringed screw holes in the motherboard while the opposite end of the standoff is fastened to the enclosure wall. Mounting the motherboard in this manner prevents it from short circuiting.
Standoff Fastener Manufacturers
- Accurate Screw Machine (ASM)
- Amatom
- Bivar
- Concord Electronics
- ITW Fastex
- Keystone Electronics
- Lyn-Tron
- RAF Electronic Hardware
Configuring Standoff Fasteners
Since standoffs come in so many styles, sizes, and materials configuring the correct standoff for your application can be challenging. To aid you in configuring standoffs and other electronic hardware bisco has recently updated it’s RAF product catalog. Users can now browse and filter standoffs by style, material, diameter, length, thread size, and finish. Visit bisco’s online RAF product selector to learn more.
What is a Thumb Screw?
Thumb Screw Description
Thumb screws are threaded fasteners with textured heads that allow them to be fastened and unfastened by hand. Thumb screws are typically used on low stress applications that require easy access. For example, thumb screws are often used to secure the side panel of desktop computer enclosures. Thumb screws are manufactured in many different lengths, diameters, thread sizes, and materials. Thumb screw materials include aluminum, brass, nylon, steel, and stainless steel.
Leading Thumb Screw Manufacturers:
- RAF Electronic Hardware
- Accurate Screw Machine (ASM)
- Essentra
- Unicorp
- Lyn-Tron
- Keystone Electronics
Learn More About Thumb Screws
Helpful resources for configuring thumb screws include RAF’s thumb screw catalog and Lyn-Tron’s online thumb screw configurator. For personal assistance finding thumb screws contact bisco industries’ product support team.
Product Spotlight: RAF 1/8 Round Spacers
bisco industries now offers 1/8 inch round spacers from manufacturer, RAF Electronic Hardware. RAF 1/8 round spacers are available in lengths ranging from 3/32 inch to a 1/2 inch with clearance hole diameters of 0.064 or 0.090 inches. Available materials include aluminum, brass, stainless steel, steel, and nylon. RAF also offers a variety of finishes including plain (no finish), nickel, cadmium clear chromate, and black oxide. Although all standard materials for RAF’s 1/8 round spacers are RoHS compliant some finishes may not be RoHS compliant.
Understanding RAF Part Numbers
RAF allows users to easily configure part numbers based on their requirements. For example, RAF part number 1100-2-AL-0 is an aluminum 1/8 round spacer with a length of 1/8 inches, a clearance hole diameter of 0.090 inches, and a plain finish. Visit RAFs online catalog to configure 1/8 inch round spacers for your application.
Find Stock on RAF 1/8 Round Spacers
bisco industries is an authorized RAF Electronic Hardware distributor and offers stock on a wide variety of RAF spacers including 1/8 round spacers. Top stocked 1/8 round spacers include:
Visit biscoind.com to get pricing and availability and to place orders at the click of a button.
Manufacturer Profile: RAF Electronic Hardware
RAF is North America’s leading supplier of electronic hardware components to industries including telecommunications, medical, computer, entertainment, and military/aerospace. All RAF products are available in standard and metric dimensions and are also RoHS compliant. Most of RAF’s catalog items are stocked and available for same-day shipment. In addition RAF’s in-house plating facility enables them to provide customers with a quick turnaround even on plated parts.
RAF Products Include:
- Captive Panel Screws
- Spacers
- Standoffs
- Jack Screws
- Precision Shoulder Screws
- Thumb Screws
- Printed Circuit Board Supports
- Handles & Ferrules
- Non-Metallic Washers
For a complete listing of RAF products and to configure products view RAF’s online catalog.
bisco – Authorized RAF Distributor
bisco industries is proud to be an authorized RAF distributor. Looking for pricing and stock information? Visit biscoind.com and simply search the RAF item. If pricing is not readily available our e-commerce customer service team will be happy to assist you.
What is a Captive Screw?
Captive screws are specially designed to lock into pre-drilled holes so that the screw can be fastened and unfastened without the screw being detached. One of the primary benefits of captive screws is that they provide secure fastening while reducing costs associated with lost screws or damage from foreign object debris (FOD). Captive screws are available in a variety of styles and materials to suite diverse application needs. Captive screws are frequently used in electronic enclosures, exhibits/signs, medical devices, and network cabinets.
Leading Captive Screw Manufacturers
- Southco
- Alcoa
- RAF
- Essentra
- PEM
- PSM
Learn More About Captive Screws
To learn more about captive screws, read this helpful article from IHS Engineering 360 or contact bisco’s industries’ customer support team. Be sure to visit bisco’s blog each Wednesday to learn about other commonly used fasteners and electronic components.
What is a Spacer?
Spacers are unthreaded cylindrical fasteners fabricated from a variety of materials including brass, stainless steel, and nylon. Similar to standoffs, spacers differ in that they are unthreaded. Spacers fall under the broader categories of electronic hardware and printed circuit board (PCB) hardware as spacers are primarily used to separate (space) PCBs. Spacers protect PCBs from heat damage by creating space for cooling air flow while also allowing PCBs to be stacked.
How Are Spacers Manufactured?
Spacers are typically fabricated using computer numerical control (CNC) machining or automatic lathe machining. CNC machining utilizes computer programs to control the machining process while automatic lathe machining automates the machining process through mechanical means. In either method the raw material is inserted into the machine and then rotated at varying speeds while cutting tools remove excess material until the final product is produced.
Leading Spacer Manufacturers
Only Have a Product Description?
RAF and Lyn-Tron both offer convenient product configurators to help you find a manufacturer item number. Once you’ve located the item number or if you already have it, be sure to visit biscoind.com to get pricing and availability information.
bisco and Fast-Cor attend the 2015 National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo in Las Vegas
Last week, 10 team members from bisco industries and their sister-company Fast-Cor participated in the 35th National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo in Las Vegas, NV. The show aims to connect manufacturers and master distributors of industrial fasteners, precision formed parts, fastener machinery & tooling and other related products. The show officially opened on Thursday, October 22nd and ran two full days of demos and networking. This year’s show was held at the Sands Expo Center and proved to be a successful trip for all members the bisco and Fast-Cor team.
Supply Partner Meetings
Our meetings with our supply partners gave our team a great chance to touch base on the year’s progress and any upcoming product launches and events. One exciting update from manufacturer, RAF Electronic Hardware was the announcement of a new line of standoffs certified to NAS specifications. Many of bisco’s supply partners also exhibited at the show including 3M, HOLO-KROME, Micro Plastics, Lyn-Tron, A. Raymond Tinnerman, and Unbrako.
Leveraging Manufacturer Relationships for Our Customers
bisco leverages our strong relationships with these and many other manufacturers to provide our clients with the best pricing, availability, and access to custom manufacturing services. Are you looking for specialized fasteners and hardware? Visit biscoind.com to get pricing and availability on specialty fasteners and hardware at the click of a button.
RAF Electronic Hardware Recognizes bisco for Record Sales
One of bisco’s top lines – RAF Electronic Hardware – recently wrapped up their fiscal year and the numbers show a record year in sales for bisco industries. In honor of bisco’s achievement RAF presented an award to bisco recognizing its highest year yet in RAF business.
Given bisco’s reputation as an industry leading source for PCB hardware and electronic components, it’s only natural that RAF and bisco have a strong partnership and proven history of success.
RAF spacers, standoffs, and electronic hardware are used in a variety of industries, including computers, telecommunications, medical, entertainment and military/aerospace.
RAF’s Product Offering Includes:
- Spacers
- Standoffs
- Captive Panel Screws
- Jack Screws
- Thumb Screws
- Printed Circuit Board Supports
- Handles & Ferrules
- Non-Metallic Washers
- CNC Precision Turned Components
- Right Angle Contacts
- Miniature Machining
- Sub-Assemblies
With 48 local offices bisco has all of your RAF needs covered! Ask us about our value added services including VMI, bin stocking, kitting, same day shipments, immediate quotes and more! You can also visit out e-commerce site to place orders online or submit requests for pricing.
Reduce Costs by Using Captive Screws
What is a Captive Screw?
Captive screws are designed to lock into a hole while allowing the fastened components to be detached without the complete removal of the screw. Thus a captive screw can be locked in place on a parent component without being fastened to a child component. Captive fasteners are typically locked in place using thread locking, press-fitting, or broaching.
Advantages of Using Captive Fasteners
Captive screws help control costs by minimizing damage to machinery from loose screws and by reducing the need for replacement fasteners. Captive screws also help make repairs easier by allowing easy access to components.
Captive Screw Configurations
Captive fasteners are available in a variety of configurations and designs.
| Style | Locking Style | Drive Style | Materials |
| Flush Captive Screws | Flare-In | Philips | Steel |
| Spring-Loaded Captive Screws | Broaching / Spline | Slotted | Stainless Steel |
| Low Profile Captive Screws | Thread Locking | Socket | Brass |
| Knob Captive Screws | Soldering | Torx | Aluminum |
| And More… | And More… | And More… | And More… |
Captive Screw Manufacturers
bisco industries offers captive screws from industry leading manufacturers including:
To find the right captive fastener for your application search biscoind.com or contact our customer service team today!
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