Al...I have an old Atlas-Clausing mill. It uses collets up to 1/2" to hold the cutting tools so it's not a big machine. It was given to me by a friend who makes a living doing "tune-ups" on machines like lathes, mills,CNC machines, etc. It's really interesting to watch him work. It's takes a fine craftsman to scrape a lathe bed back to trueness ! My mill fits nicely in my shop and is on rollers so it can be moved if necessary.
I have been looking at a CNC also but more for woodworking. My thought was to buy one of them and practice on wood first. A woodworking tool company called Rockler out of Minnesota sells one for about $1500.00. It would do pretty much everything I would be interested in doing with one. Especially pattern making for aluminum castings.
A full sized CNC can be had for about $10,000,00 used. New, about $35000.00 to start. If I bought a used one, my friend said he would tune it up for me. The only problem is that I have absolutely nowhere to put it. We are getting serious about selling this home after 49 years and building the next one. With that in mind I would build me a huge shop/garage to house and separate it by materials...One for automotive, one for machine/metal working, and one for woodworking. I'm thinking 30' by 60' with a 10' ceiling.
Oh, I don't do the engraving. A hobbiest friend of mine does it in his garage on his little 24" X 24" Rockler CNC.................Bruce