the Heavy-9

The Heavy-9 is an aftermarket upgrade housing for the FC980C and FC980M keyboards made by Leopold. The unique layout of these keyboards provides a full number pad in a form factor not much wider than a standard Tenkeyless.

Retro-industrial design

Sharing the robust retro-industrial styling of its popular little brother (the Heavy-6), this thing is a hefty beast—the most massive keyboard housing I've ever made (or am likely ever to make). For keyboard-loving Excel jockeys and other number crunchers, it might well just make for the ultimate keyboard build.

Technical Details

Steel rear cover weight

The Heavy-9 comes with a hefty and dense powder-coated steel rear cover plate. This greatly increases the overall weight of the board and also reduces acoustic reflections and sound transmission.

Integral fasteners

This design is also my first to incorporate PEM fasteners as standoffs on the rear cover plate, making assembly even easier and with fewer parts to lose. A custom anodized aluminum adapter plate is also included for securely mounting and precisely aligning the sub-PCB of the breakout board to the rear cover plate assembly. (I know that all might sound complicated, but the idea is that assembly on this kit is actually quite easy.)

Acoustic Dampener

An included merino wool felt acoutic dampener absorbs internal sound reflections.

Specifications

Dimensions: 412mm x 161mm x 32mm (at tallest point). Typing angle is 3 degrees.

The aluminum version weighs in at almost 6 pounds (3kg) with the keyboard installed. The Veracity Steel version: around 11 pounds (5kg).

Material and finish options

Aerospace The quintessential retro-futurist finish, in clear anodized aluminum. White rear cover plate.

Tactical Understated elegance in anodized black. Black rear cover plate.

K2 An elegant textured white powder coat.

Enigma Black This finely-textured black powder coat finish is a throwback to vintage typewriters and electronics housings of the 1940s and 1950s.

VHS A vaguely Vaporwave white and light-gray textured finish.

Aperture A textured powder coat reminiscent of one used on high-end vintage photography equipment.

Solid copper Solid copper, hand finished, with powder clear coat.

Veracity Steel The same material and finish used on many luxury watches, the solid stainless steel material and mirror finish can be re-polished and is thus user-maintainable over time.

Nota bene

This is a DIY kit for keyboard tinkerers and hobbyists. It is an aftermarket upgrade housing and does not include the keyboard itself or keycaps (even though product images may show it with those for illustrative purposes). While the build isn't difficult, it does require taking apart your OEM keyboard. This may invalidate your keyboard warranty, and by purchasing you agree to take on that project and its results at your own risk. (But, of course, that's also part of the fun.) Of course, I'm always here to answer any questions by email if any arise during your install.