Leonard M. Chau

Note (November 2025): This website is constantly being updated and maintained. A significant shift occurred this month as I began the construction of this website from the ground up. If the site appears small or under construction, that’s because it is—I’m actively building and expanding it with new content, features, and improvements. Thank you for your patience as I continue to develop this space!

Hi, I’m Leonard Chau—a mechanical engineer, maker, and researcher from the San Francisco Bay Area. I specialize in building practical, low-cost scientific instruments that combine mechanical design, optics, electronics, automation, and software. I love working at the intersection of old and new technology: restoring typewriters and film equipment, welding and machining metal assemblies, and designing intelligent robotic systems powered by modern software and AI.

Education & Background

I’m currently pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at San Francisco State University (graduating Spring 2026, GPA 3.92). Before transferring, I studied engineering drawing, materials, calculus, physics, welding, metallurgy, and MATLAB at Diablo Valley College and Las Positas College, building a strong foundation in both engineering theory and hands-on fabrication.

I learned early that engineering isn’t just math and simulation—it’s the sound of a tool cutting material, the moment a prototype finally aligns, or the way a mechanical assembly “feels” when it works. That philosophy drives almost everything I build.

Research & Innovation

My research focuses on democratizing access to advanced imaging and scientific tools. In Dr. Raymond Esquerra’s Bioengineering Lab, I design robotic imaging systems—microscopes, fluorescence platforms, and depth-imaging tools—built from Raspberry Pi hardware, coaxial optics, dark-field illumination, and 3D-printed components. These systems cost a fraction of commercial instruments, yet deliver reliable, reproducible results for real experiments.

Some of my projects:

FluorCam

A low-cost, open-source fluorescence and IR dark-field microscope.

• Uses coaxial optics, Raspberry Pi imaging, and custom Python automation

• Achieves fluorescence imaging comparable to commercial microscopes

• ~$500 total cost vs. $20,000+ commercial systems

• I led mechanical/optical design, integrating filters, mounts, gantry alignment, and automated acquisition

StentorCam

An automated dark-field platform for studying Stentor coeruleus behavior.

• 3D-printed optics + infrared illumination

• Automatic tracking and stimulation experiments

• Used for NSF-funded training and team research

3D-Cam

A depth-imaging platform using a single camera and mirror geometry.

• Performs z-height reconstruction without dual-camera hardware

• I lead the mechanical design and software development in Python

• Currently under active development

Across these systems, my work combines CAD, optics, G-code automation, Python, image processing, and mechanical iteration to transform research ideas into working instruments.

This research has led to:

• Poster and oral presentations at the Gilead Scholars Symposium, Student Enrichment Office Research Symposium, and Center for Cellular Construction Summer Retreat

• Funding awards including the Gilead Innovation Initiative and Kenneth Fong Translational Research Award

Hands-On Engineering

My engineering identity is fundamentally physical and practical.

I’ve worked as a TIG welder and fabricator at Altamont Manufacturing, building precision metal assemblies from drawings under strict quality requirements. At SFSU, I work as an Engineering Machine Shop Assistant, supporting students in machining, 3D printing, and lab equipment setup. As VP of the 3D Printing Club and VP of Tau Beta Pi, I mentor peers, run workshops, and maintain the Innovation Space as an open, accessible fabrication environment.

I’ve restored and reverse-engineered mechanical devices ranging from motorcycles and radios to antique typewriters. One long-term project involves designing parametric, resin-printed replacement type elements using OpenSCAD—preserving historical machines while exploring new fonts and mechanical geometries.

Whether in a machine shop, lab bench, or CAD environment, I enjoy solving problems where theory becomes hardware.

Technical Focus

• Mechanical design (Fusion 360, SolidWorks, OpenSCAD)

• 3D printing (FDM + SLA), camera/optical mounts, alignment systems

• Welding: TIG, MIG, flux core; machining and fabrication

• Python & C++ automation, image processing, G-code motion control

• Experimental design, quantitative imaging, biological assays

• Diagnostics and repair of mechanical and electrical systems

• Using AI tools to accelerate design, optimization, and coding

Why I Build

I believe engineering is a blend of science, art, and restoration. I love old machines not just because they are nostalgic, but because they remind us that clever mechanisms existed before microprocessors. I love new technology because AI, embedded control, and digital fabrication let us reinvent what is possible at low cost.

My goal is to design accessible, open-source instruments—tools that make research more affordable, education more hands-on, and experimentation more precise.

If you’re working on imaging, robotics, mechanical restoration, scientific instrumentation, or unusual electromechanical systems—let’s build something together.