Glass tube converting process with piercing during index

A method for producing a plurality of glass articles from glass tube, the method comprising:

• securing a glass tube in a holder of a converter comprising a plurality of processing stations, the plurality of processing stations comprising a plurality of heating stations, at least one forming station, and a separating station, wherein the converter indexes the holder and the glass tube successively through each of the processing stations;
• forming one or more features of a glass article at a working end of the glass tube by indexing the glass tube through each of the plurality of heating stations and the at least one forming station;
• separating the glass article from the working end of the glass tube in the separating station, wherein separating the glass article from the working end of the glass tube forms a meniscus of glass at the working end of the glass tube;
• indexing the glass tube from the separating station to an auxiliary processing station that is disposed directly downline of the separating station, the auxiliary processing station comprising one of the plurality of heating stations or one of the at least one forming stations;
• and
• translating the glass tube over a piercing burner positioned below a path of travel of the glass tube between the separating station and the auxiliary processing station to pierce the meniscus while indexing the glass tube between the separating station and the auxiliary processing station during an index time of the converter, wherein:
• the index time is a duration of time during which the glass tube is translated from one processing station to a next immediately adjacent processing station;
• and
• piercing the meniscus opens the working end of the glass tube.