"Perhaps the only way to make a good amount back from CNC is to work towards mass production of low profit per unit parts that have mass appeal?"
John I tried this approach and then I needed more equipment. After getting the equipment I needed employees and on and on the story goes. What I found out the hard way is that no matter how hard I tried I could not compete with the companies who had more, better, and bigger equipment as well as more employees.
With all of my heart I wish I could give you the correct information and direction....well ok if I really knew it I'd write a book, get on the tube as infomercials and be one of those millionaires.
I have heard two sayings that seem to apply here.
1. A person is only given two or three opportunities in life to make it big!
2. The harder I work the luckier I seem to get!
My advise to you would be to take a little more time in deciding what it is you really want to do. Once that decision has been made, write out a set of obtainable goals. The first of those should be to find a mentor and the second to build a written business plan, I'll let you decide what the others whould be!
Mike