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A standoff is a general-purpose hardware construction that allows two like-size objects to be mounted at a fixed distance from each other. They are usually made of steel or brass. A standoff consists of one or more threaded rods, sometimes with washers on each end, which can screw down into a piece of equipment and then clamp down on the table surface. There are many uses for standoffs in electronics and engineering such as mounting cabinet drawers to their bases so they don’t sag; mounting monitors onto desks; building IKEA furniture; and adding shelves between rows of bookshelves to create space for taller items like lamps or stuffed animals.
A hardware standoff is also called a hardware anchor, and is used to attach equipment to other equipment. The majority of standoffs are made in pairs, so that two items can be mounted together. Sometimes it is only one end that attached to the table or mounting equipment.
The purpose of a standoff is to provide space for mounting both parts separately. A strong enough clamping force is applied from all sides so that in case an item is not mounted properly, it will tip over or fall off in a way that will not damage the part. The needed thrust comes from the distance between the parts and from the size of the object that needs to mount.
What are standoffs and why are they important?
Have you ever been in a corporate building and noticed that they don’t have many framed pieces on the wall?
When you’re walking through the lobby of a corporate HQ, for example, you might see some photographs hanging on the walls. But, these pieces aren’t usually framed. They’re not hung with a traditional hook-and-wire system.
Instead, they’re typically mounted with standoffs. These small, metal pegs actually go through the surface of an artwork and hold it securely to the wall.
This hanging technique looks a lot more professional others. It also prevents the object from falling off the wall if someone ever bumps into it.
how does a standoff work?
Typically, standoffs are paired with artwork that’s printed directly onto wood or aluminum.
Holes are drilled into the corners of the piece. Standoffs are mounted to the wall with screws. They then slide through the holes in the work’s corners. A standoff cap screws to the wall-mounted part and holds the artwork in place.
This type of hardware comes in a range of different lengths, allowing you to mount your piece as far away from the wall as you’d like.