VESA Spacer / Adapter – Restores Rear Ventilation for RIGOL Oscilloscope Mounting (DHO800)

This model is a VESA spacer/adapter designed to be placed between an oscilloscope and a VESA mount plate.
Its primary purpose is to restore free airflow around the rear ventilation and fan area, which can otherwise be partially or fully blocked when mounting the device directly to a VESA plate. It was designed specifically for a RIGOL DHO814.

Why this spacer is needed

When mounting my oscilloscope directly to a VESA mount, I noticed that the VESA plate covered a significant portion of the rear ventilation openings. As a result, the oscilloscope became noticeably hotter during operation.

After installing this spacer:

• The fan and ventilation area are fully unobstructed again

• Airflow is restored

• The oscilloscope now runs cool again, even during extended use

In my opinion, this is a design oversight: while the device supports a 100 mm VESA mount, there is no warning that a standoff is required to maintain proper cooling. This spacer solves that issue cleanly and reversibly.

Design details

• Provides additional spacing between the oscilloscope and the VESA mount

• Keeps the entire rear fan and ventilation area free

• Non-destructive and fully reversible solution

• Suitable for articulated monitor arms and fixed VESA mounts

• Stronger than individual spacers that would otherwise skew more easily.

Mounting configuration (current STL)

• Device side:

  • 100 mm VESA

  • M4 screw holes

• VESA mount side:

  • 75 mm VESA

  • M5 screw holes

Fully parametric (FreeCAD included)

A FreeCAD source file is included, making it easy to adapt this model to your own setup.

• The model uses a dedicated vars file for parameters

• You can easily adjust:

  • Screw hole diameters (M4, M5, or others)

  • VESA spacing (75 mm / 100 mm)

  • Spacer height / offset distance

• No redesign required — just change the parameters and re-export

This makes the model suitable for:

• Different oscilloscope models

• Alternative VESA sizes

• Custom airflow or clearance requirements

Printing notes

• Designed as a structural spacer; print settings should prioritize strength and dimensional accuracy

• Printed successfully on an IDEX printer

• Supports required

If you mount equipment that relies on rear airflow, this spacer is a simple and effective way to avoid thermal issues caused by blocked ventilation while still using standard VESA hardware.