Little drills on an aluminum plate?

Any of the Stepcraft machines should have absolutely no trouble doing this operation at all.

You only need a standard HSS twist drill, and take the rake off to stop it grabbing the aluminium.

@5,000rpm plunge @ 490mm/min.
@10,000rpm plunge @ 980mm/min.

Pecking never hurts; the drill plunges a distance, retracts a fraction, then goes deeper, retracts a fraction, deeper again, rinse and repeat until you're at desired depth. May not have that feature on basic CAM software though. Can program it yourself if you can be bothered.

Also, use Methylated Spirits for lubricant on aluminium.