A surface level control system for use with a fabrication tank of a programmable material consolidation apparatus includes at least one aperture with a lowermost edge located at about the same elevation as a desired surface level for unconsolidated material within the fabrication tank. The surface level control system may also include a receptacle for receiving unconsolidated material that has been removed from the fabrication tank. The surface level control system may be configured to constantly allow for the removal of unconsolidated material, or it may be configured to selectively remove unconsolidated material. One or more sensors may be used to monitor the surface level and provide information that may be used in maintaining the surface level at a substantially constant elevation. A recycling system may be used in conjunction with or separately from a surface level control system to reintroduce unconsolidated material back into the fabrication tank.