Re: A bit of advice needed
We are a small manufacturer and went through the startup phase about 4 years ago. It was a big decision for us to move from manual machine prototyping to full on in house CNC machining. Our machining needs were a bit more complex than drilling & tapping a few holes, but after getting some quotes from local shops it made our decision much easier. We purchased a used, but like new, Haas TM-2p with a 20 tool changer and never looked back.
If you have the budget for purchasing a CNC machine, then I would say go for it. Probably overkill for your current needs, but you will find a lot more uses for it in the future. Take a serious look at roll form tapping, works great in aluminum. That is what we use and have had very good luck with it.
CAD/CAM software ranges from free to crazy expensive. NanoCAD, an AutoCAD clone, has a free version and you can purchase the ''pro'' version for <$100 as I recall, CamBam is a simple CAM with some CAD capability software for $150. I can't remember if it supports rigid tapping.
For professional CAD/CAM 3D modeling software Fusion 360 is my go to choice. It is a subscription pricing model but is still a pretty good value, I think about $1200/year. Free subscriptions are available for hobbyists and startups. It works well and has a short learning curve if you have some CAD experience.
Jim Dawson
Sandy, Oregon, USA