Production system for forming filtration tubes including subsystems and method of using same

A method for processing and inspecting filtration tubes using a production system comprising a six-axis robotic arm configured to move tubes between a plurality of sub-systems, the plurality of sub-systems comprising:

• a tube input-output subsystem configured to hold a plurality of tubes, the robotic arm being configured to withdraw a tube for processing from the tube input-output subsystem, an inspection system configured to receive and inspect the tube placed therein by the robotic arm, the inspection system configured to inspect the tube by scanning a surface of the tube to determine presence of abnormalities, defects, and/or quality issues, and a laser cutting system configured to receive the tube via the robotic arm moving said tube to the laser cutting system, the laser cutting system being configured to cut a plurality of slots, holes, and/or pores into and through a wall of the tube to form a filtration tube that is configured to filter solids from fluids;
• the method comprising:
• withdrawing a tube for processing from the tube input-output subsystem using the robotic arm;
• moving the tube using the robotic arm to the inspection system for inspection;
• inspecting the tube by scanning a surface of the tube using the inspection system to determine presence of abnormalities, defects and/or quality issues in said tube and to determine the tube that has passed inspection or that is defective;
• moving the inspected tube to the laser cutting system using the robotic arm, or, else, moving a defective tube back to the tube input-output subsystem using the robotic arm;
• and
• for each tube passing inspection, cutting a plurality of slots, holes, and/or pores into and through a wall of the tube to form a filtration tube that is configured to filter solids from fluids using the laser cutting system.