A cutoff saw assembly incorporates a robot assembly with a compliant cutting apparatus to remove various undesired metal extensions from a casting. The assembly cooperatively and conjunctively controls the position of the casting using the robot assembly and the force exerted by the cutting apparatus on the casting using a compliance control system. The compliance control system includes a compliance actuator that is connected to a compliance regulator. Both the robot assembly and the compliance control system are connected to a system controller. The compliance actuator is connected to the cutoff blade to actively vary the force of the cutting blade with respect to the casting. The compliance regulator, which is connected to the system controller, will measure and regulate the pressure in the compliance actuator, such that the robot assembly and compliance control system can apply the required force to cut the casting.