Laser cutting of tubular articles

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The subject invention is a method and apparatus for cutting composite tubes with a laser beam.
A laser beam is divided into two components by a beamsplitter.
In order to minimize the effects that random polarization of the laser beam may have on the relative power of the two components, the beamsplitter is located so that the angle of incidence of the laser beam on the beamsplitter is near normal.
The two laser beam components are directed to separate points on a composite tube by means of mirrors.
The points on the tube may be on a circumference of the tube and diametrically opposed to one another, or they may be located at different points along the longitudinal axis of the tube.
The tube rotates and is severed by the laser beam components.
The use of two laser beam components permits the cutting of individual can lengths from the tube even though the length of each can is less than the amount of longitudinal travel of the tube during one rotation, and the orientation of the beamsplitter allows for more efficient use of laser power.