Abstract: Glass tubes are fed one at a time from a supply to a station. Each of the tubes is rotated in the station about a longitudinal axis of the tube in the station and is simultaneously pressed axially against a fixed stop. A laser beam is directed at the rotating tube in the station at a location along the tube offset from the stop to melt the tube at the location and cut from the tube a section lying between the location and the stop. After cutting from the tube, the tube section is transversely displaced onto a conveyor and transported away from the station by the conveyor. Then the tube in the station is advanced axially into engagement with the stop and the steps of rotating, cutting, and so on are repeated until the tube is exhausted.