Systems and methods for converting glass tubes with microwaves of mm-wavelengths

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;
• and
• 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
• volumetrically heating a targeted heat area on at least one of the glass tube and the glass article in at least one of the processing stations using an electromagnetic heating device.