Spacers DI10 white

DI10 spacers in the white version are spacer sleeves in polyethylene (PE) for screw joints where two parts are to be held apart at a set measure. Instead of stacked washers or cut lengths of tube you get a ready made sleeve with a defined height; the assembly goes faster and the result is the same every time, whoever does the screwing.

The series covers more than 250 size combinations in white. The hole runs from 4.3 to 13 mm and suits screw sizes from M4 to M12, the outer diameter from 10 to 25 mm and the height from 2 to 30 mm, graded in millimeter steps through large parts of the range. That means a gap can be adjusted a millimeter at a time without cutting or shimming. You pick the size as a variant on the product page; sales are only in full packs of 1000 pieces.

The white color is the main point of this particular version. White spacers disappear visually against white painted panels, light equipment cabinets, store interiors and sign assemblies, where a black sleeve would have stuck out like a fly in a glass of milk. The same goes for light lab and hospital environments where white equipment is the norm and where dirt also shows immediately, which makes cleaning routines easier.

Polyethylene as a material does more than carry the color. PE does not pick up moisture and keeps its dimensions stable all year, insulates electrically and takes cleaning agents, acids, bases and alcohols without being affected. The material is common in equipment close to food thanks to its chemical resistance and smooth surface; for applications with direct food contact you check the approval status for the size in question in the manufacturer's data sheet. PE is also softer than polyamide and acetal, so the sleeve does not scratch paint or anodizing during assembly.

Typical cases: signs and information boards that are to float a little way from the wall, front panels with an air gap for cooling, circuit boards and sensor mounts in light equipment, interior details in stores and exhibition booths, and panel assemblies in commercial kitchens and food premises where the equipment is to be light and easy to keep clean.

During assembly the same rules of thumb apply as for all polyethylene. The material creeps under high constant clamping force, so let the spacer hold the distance and tighten the joint with moderate torque; if the joint needs high clamping force you put it through a metal sleeve and let the plastic spacer handle the distance and the contact. Against thin sheet metal, pick a larger outer diameter that spreads the pressure over a larger area.

Worth knowing is that white PE holds up reasonably well in daylight indoors, but for assembly in direct sunlight over a long time the black sister version of DI10 is the more durable choice, since the black pigment protects the polymer against UV breakdown. Dimensions and detail data per size are in the manufacturer's data sheet.

The breadth of the range is largely the same as for the black version, so you can keep one common dimensional standard through the whole product line and only switch color to suit the environment. That simplifies the planning: one drawing note about hole diameter, outer diameter and height is enough, and then purchasing picks the version. If you have assemblies where the spacer is visible from the outside it is often worth matching the color to the panel; it lifts the overall impression more than you would think, not least in public places such as stores and receptions where technical details should show as little as possible.

Do you want to check the choice of size against your assembly before you order? Call us and we will sort it out together.