FLUID JET CUTTING SYSTEMS

It is provided a fluid jet cutting system (110, 210), comprising: a multiaxial industrial robot (112, 212) having an end effector (115, 215) to grip a workpiece (114, 214) to be processed, the multiaxial industrial robot (112, 212) configured to selectively move the workpiece within a working envelope defined by a range of motion of the multiaxial industrial robot (112, 212); a tank (122, 222) positioned within the working envelope of the multiaxial industrial robot (112, 212) to enable the workpiece (114, 214) to be submerged under fluid within the tank (122, 222) during a workpiece processing operation; and at least one fluid jet cutting head (118, 119, 218) having an orifice (130) to generate a high pressure fluid jet (132, 232) and a fluid jet outlet (134) from which to discharge the high pressure fluid jet (132, 232), characterized in that the cutting head (118, 119, 218) is located relative to the tank (122, 222) such that, during the workpiece processing operation, the high pressure fluid jet (132, 232) discharges from the fluid jet outlet (134) beneath an upper surface of the fluid within the tank (122, 222), cuts through the workpiece, and dissipates within a region of the fluid in the tank (122, 222), located adjacent a side of the workpiece (114, 214) opposite the cutting head (118, 119, 218).