Method for producing a polymer-improved pipe element

A method for the automated or partially automated production of a pipe element for polymer-enhancement using pipe sections subject to tolerances, comprising the following steps:

• providing a first pipe section and a second pipe section, wherein the pipe sections each have a connecting region, which is provided for connection to the respective other pipe section;
• detecting a three-dimensional shape of the first pipe section and a three-dimensional shape of the second pipe section, in each case in the connecting regions;
• determining a spatial penetration curve as a function of a superposition of the three-dimensional shapes,
• determining a cut contour in the connecting region of the first pipe section and a cut contour in the connecting region of the second pipe section, in each case as a function of the penetration curve;
• generating edge surfaces in the connecting regions of the first and second pipe sections along the respective cut contours, wherein the edge surface of the first pipe section defines a cutout through a wall of the first pipe section, and wherein the edge surface of the second pipe section is formed on an end of the second pipe section;
• aligning the generated edge surfaces of the pipe sections with respect to one another;
• and
• welding the first and second pipe sections along the mutually aligned edge surfaces along the determined spatial penetration curve.