AutoCAD files can?

do you guys think 3D printing is a viable venture?

Buy a good 3D printing machine
set up website
offer 3D printing service

while 3D designing service can be offered
We do have lots of engineering student that learn CAD program (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Pro|Engineer, etc)
if we can convert those files to be readable by the 3D machine
im pretty sure there is a huge engineering student market out there

well, it's a start.
At least can create some basic item.
Of course I don't expect the student to straight create a figure model from AutoCAD
Possible, but very hard

It would be motivation for the student to learn rendering software.

lol what? sand casting?
that's a bit too heavy on the industry side

you will need some serious workshop if you want to do sand casting.

you got mini furnace?

need quite a lot of equipment/material
that's why i said it's a bit heavy on the industry side

unless you plan to make it a regular thing
might as well just print the plastice model and take it to a local small factory
at least they might have better quality control there