Systems and methods for glass tube separation and sealing using lasers

A system for finishing ends of a plurality of glass tubes or glass rods, the system comprising:

• a conveyor operable to translate the plurality of glass tubes or glass rods horizontally while also rotating each of the plurality of glass tubes or glass rods about a center axis of the glass tube or glass rod;
• a separating laser system comprising:
• a laser source operable to produce a laser beam;
• and
• a beam delivery system operable to modify a shape, power density, power density distribution, or combinations thereof of the laser beam to produce a separating laser beam and direct the separating laser beam to the plurality of glass tubes or glass rods being translated and rotated by the conveyor;
• and
• one or more axial separation conveyors that diverge from the conveyor and are operable to exert a pulling force on an end of each of the plurality of glass tubes or glass rods in at least an axial direction relative to the center axis.

A method for producing glass rods, the method comprising:

• producing a continuous solid glass cylinder;
• cutting the continuous solid glass cylinder into glass rods having an initial length;
• finishing at least one end of the plurality of glass rods, wherein finishing the at least one end of the plurality of glass rods comprises:
• rotating each glass rod about a center axis of the glass rod;
• while rotating the glass rod, heating a target region of the glass rod by exposing the target region of the glass rod to a separating laser beam;
• and
• while exposing the target region of the glass rod to the separating laser beam, applying a pulling force to the at least one end of the glass rod, wherein applying the pulling force while exposing the target region to the separating laser beam separates a section of the glass rod from the at least one end of the glass rod and finishes a new end of the glass rod.