Polatherm
An instant camera built from repurposed hard drive casings, poplar wood, and a thermal printer — producing black-and-white prints immediately after capture.
Polatherm is a DIY instant camera that uses thermal printing technology to produce black-and-white photographs on the spot. The front and rear panels are repurposed hard drive casings. The housing is poplar wood, designed parametrically and laser-cut with a geometric pattern that allows the corners to bend without separate joinery. Acrylic lettering and veneer are laser-cut for the front panel — all fabricated at Happylab Vienna.
Inside: a Cashinotech thermal printer, a Raspberry Pi with camera module, dual batteries, 3W high-power and RGB LEDs, and a charging controller. Photos are stored on a microSD card and can be retrieved and edited via computer. Available for hire at events — openings, parties, markets, fairs.