Waterjet cutting system with variable liquid level

A waterjet system comprising a nozzle supported within a cutting tank, the cutting tank having a floor and at least one upstanding wall defining a cutting volume, wherein the cutting volume is at least partially filled with a liquid, and wherein the nozzle is submersible within the liquid to perform a submerged cutting operation;

• a high pressure fluid supply selectively fluidly connected to the nozzle to produce a cutting stream;
• a controller;
• a level sensor in sensing communication with the liquid in the cutting tank to measure a liquid level within the cutting tank, the level sensor being in communication with the controller to provide the liquid level to the controller;
• and
• a liquid level assembly in communication with the controller and adapted to maintain a selected liquid level within the cutting tank relative to the nozzle,
• wherein the nozzle is supported on a cutting head, wherein at least one motor is connected to the nozzle to selectively change a nozzle height, the motor including an encoder that provides the nozzle height to the controller, and
• wherein the controller determines a position of a tip of the nozzle as the nozzle height changes and selectively operates the liquid level assembly to maintain the liquid level above the tip of the nozzle during the submerged cutting operation.