Final answer:
In traditional manufacturing, round corners on slots and pockets are more common due to the natural geometry created by rotating cutting tools. To achieve square corners, additional specialized tooling or non-traditional manufacturing methods are required.
Step-by-step explanation:
When using traditional manufacturing equipment, specifying slots or pockets with round corners is more common than square corners. This is because the tooling used for traditional machining processes, such as mills and end mills, naturally creates a rounded corner as they rotate while cutting into the material. This limitation stems from the geometry of the cutting tools and the manner in which they remove material.
In contrast, square corners would require specialized tooling such as a broach, or additional operations like Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), which are not part of the standard equipment for many traditional manufacturing setups. Therefore, if a design specifically requires square corners, it would either necessitate additional processing steps or the use of non-traditional manufacturing methods.
Regarding the reference to a square peg fitting through the square hole and a round peg fitting through the round hole of a children's toy, this is merely an analogy indicating that specific geometries require compatible processes or tools for creation. The same principle applies to manufacturing slots and pockets, which need to be produced using the appropriate production technology and tools that can achieve the desired shapes.