Fiber optic adapter with integrally molded ferrule alignment structure

A method of manufacturing a fiber optic adapter for interconnecting two fiber optic connectors in coaxial alignment, each connector including a generally cylindrical ferrule holding an end of an optical fiber, wherein the adapter defines a body that is configured for mating the two fiber optic connectors in coaxial alignment, wherein the body of the fiber optic adapter includes a main body portion with an axial cavity defined by a top side wall, a bottom side wall, a right side wall, and a left side wall, the axial cavity extending between a first opening defined at a first end of the main body portion and a second opening defined at a second end of the main body portion, the first end configured to receive a first fiber optic connector through the first opening, and the second end configured to receive a second fiber optic connector through the second opening for mating with the first fiber optic connector, wherein the adapter also includes a ferrule alignment structure including a sleeve mount for receiving a ferrule-alignment sleeve, the sleeve mount defining a first end, a second end, and a center portion, wherein the first end of the sleeve mount is positioned toward the first end of the main body portion and the second end of the sleeve mount is positioned toward the second end of the main body portion, the sleeve mount defining an axial bore that defines a longitudinal axis extending from the first end of the sleeve mount toward the second end of the sleeve mount, the axial bore configured to receive and coaxially align the ferrules of the fiber optic connectors when the fiber optic connectors are inserted into the adapter, wherein the sleeve mount includes a first portion extending from the center portion of the sleeve mount toward the first end of the sleeve mount and a second portion extending from the center portion of the sleeve mount toward the second end of the sleeve mount, wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the sleeve mount is configured to flex out radially when receiving a ferrule-alignment sleeve into the axial bore from a respective end of the sleeve mount, the method comprising:

• molding a majority of the physical parts making up the body of the fiber optic adapter that includes the main body portion and the entirety of the sleeve mount as a unitary structure;
• and
• inserting the ferrule-alignment sleeve into the axial bore of the sleeve mount from one of the first end and the second end of the sleeve mount.