APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR LASER SEVERING METAL TUBULAR STOCK

APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR LASER SEVERING METAL TUBULAR STOCK A system for separating tubular metallic stock into discrete lengths at multiple work stations wherein spindles support and grip tubes and rotate them through a revolution of travel, a laser unit emits a laser beam, a beam bender has a traveling carriage for alternately positioning a reflector to direct the beam toward first one station and then another, and a focusing head receives the beam at each work station. Each focusing head has a lens assembly for directing the beam out an axial convergent nozzle at the rotating stock and focusing it to remove material at the surface of the stock, and a vortexing stream of combustible gas is directed at the rotating stock to enhance the laser vaporizing action which separates the stock into discrete lengths at each station.