>>7839388Depends on what kind of translucent you're expecting. Are you trying to see through it? Or just shine light through it?
If you do translucent (like a window or something) with an FDM printer (plastic filament rolls, laid down by a heated nozzle) , You're going to see the layer lines where they meet each other inside the translucent object. I've never tried translucent filament personally, but that's what I've seen from other people's attempts. I use a CR-10, and its great, but if you don't think you'll need that build volume, you cod go smaller. Just know that kit printers (box of parts you have to assemble yourself) are very frustrating and it's worth buying one that comes in like 3 parts.
With an SLA printer (liquid resin cured in layers by UV light) you can get something much smoother and more translucent, though it cures cloudier. Don't see why you couldn't sand and polish it smoother though. In that case, the anycubic photon and the elegoo Mars are both great printers, and they go for the same price I think. I use a photon for SLA printing, pic related, just pulled this off the bed.
In both cases, if you're going for something more like trying to emulate glass or a window, you might be better served making the shape on a 3D printer, then vacuforming a clear plastic shell over it. I haven't tried this yet, but I've seen it done.
