Laser is very pretty but not that usefull.
I would think you would like to make alot of parts from aluminium and if so I would suggest perhaps a Hass super mini mill. Basicly operates the same as any fullsize vertical milling center but comes in a very small package.
I work in a full grown production /job shop and about 40% of our mill production could be handled equally well on a super mini as it is on our larger machines.
Bang for the buck it would be a great educational tool, productive, capable and it's the kind of thing a student would actually see in industry only smaller.
At 6.5' x 6.5' it's the smallest mill with "real mill" capabilities that I can think of.
ps. 1200 inch per minute rapid feedrates scare even experienced machinists. Think about something moving at 20 KM/H to within .1 of the part. It still makes me think "wow".
http://www.haascnc.com/VMC_MODEL_MIN...p#VMCTreeModel