Process for making a multi-component plastic housing

A process for making a multi-component hollow housing from a shrinkable plastic material, the housing having a longitudinal axis, a top end, a bottom end, a length therebetween extending parallel to the length of the housing, the process comprising:

• injecting a first plastic material into a first mold cavity having a core at least partially disposed therein, the first mold cavity having a first-cavity length;
• causing the first plastic material to solidify, whereby the first plastic material shrinks lengthwise by a first absolute lengthwise shrinkage and whereby a first component is formed, the first component comprising a generally tubular structure having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end and a first solidified length therebetween, wherein the first solidified length is smaller than the first-cavity length;
• positioning the core, together with the first component disposed thereon, in a second mold cavity having a second-cavity length that is greater than the first-cavity length by a distance greater than the first absolute lengthwise shrinkage of the first plastic material during solidification;
• injecting a second plastic material into the second mold cavity and causing the second plastic component to solidify to form an intermediate part comprising a second component attached to the first component, the second component comprising a tolerance-elimination element that is longitudinally adjacent to the first component at one of the first end and the second end thereof, wherein the tolerance-elimination element has a proximal end adjacent to the first component, a distal end opposite to the proximal end, and an average length that is arithmetic mean of a maximal length and a minimal length of the tolerance-elimination element, the maximal and minimal lengths extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and between the proximal and distal ends of the tolerance-elimination element, wherein the first solidified length of the first component is at least ten times greater than the maximal length of the tolerance-elimination element, and wherein an absolute lengthwise shrinkage of the second plastic material forming the tolerance-elimination element is at least ten times smaller than the first absolute lengthwise shrinkage of the first plastic material;
• at least partially overmolding the intermediate part, including the tolerance-elimination element, with a third plastic material in a third mold cavity and causing the third plastic material to solidify to form a third component attached to at least one of the first component and the second component, thereby forming the multi-component housing in which the tolerance-elimination element is at least partially overmolded by the third plastic material, and wherein the third component forms at least a portion of an outer surface of the multi-component housing;
• and
• removing the multi-component housing from the core.