# S7E21 Rod Scholl | Pro Tips from 30-Year Analyst For Accurate Simulations (FEA & CFD)

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2026-05-15
- Length: 48m
- Episode: 21
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-15-s7e21-rod-scholl-pro-tips-from-30-year-analyst-for-accurate-simulations-fea-cfd

## Summary

Rod Scholl, founder of Epsilon FEA, discusses the critical role of engineering judgment in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), contrasting his early career at Honeywell and PADT with his current consulting work. He explains that simulation is most valuable when used as a calculator for specific decisions rather than for open-ended information gathering, emphasizing the importance of knowing what action will be taken based on the results. Scholl shares anecdotes about navigating complex technical challenges, such as a difficult evaporation simulation, and highlights the dangers of 'unknown unknowns' where engineers lack the ancillary knowledge required for accurate fatigue or stress analysis. He advises companies to bring in external expertise to transfer knowledge and avoid the pitfalls of siloed internal teams.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-15-s7e21-rod-scholl-pro-tips-from-30-year-analyst-for-accurate-simulations-fea-cfd#t=0) Introduction: Rod Scholl and Epsilon FEA
- [5:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-15-s7e21-rod-scholl-pro-tips-from-30-year-analyst-for-accurate-simulations-fea-cfd#t=343) Founding Epsilon FEA and the 2008 Financial Crisis
- [8:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-15-s7e21-rod-scholl-pro-tips-from-30-year-analyst-for-accurate-simulations-fea-cfd#t=521) Defining Simulation: FEA, CFD, and Boundary Conditions
- [14:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-15-s7e21-rod-scholl-pro-tips-from-30-year-analyst-for-accurate-simulations-fea-cfd#t=864) Tool Selection: The Value and Cost of ANSYS
- [16:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-15-s7e21-rod-scholl-pro-tips-from-30-year-analyst-for-accurate-simulations-fea-cfd#t=985) In-House vs. Outsourcing Simulation Expertise
- [18:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-15-s7e21-rod-scholl-pro-tips-from-30-year-analyst-for-accurate-simulations-fea-cfd#t=1113) Case Study: The $2,500 Evaporation Solution
- [21:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-15-s7e21-rod-scholl-pro-tips-from-30-year-analyst-for-accurate-simulations-fea-cfd#t=1301) When Simulation is Not the Right Tool
- [26:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-15-s7e21-rod-scholl-pro-tips-from-30-year-analyst-for-accurate-simulations-fea-cfd#t=1602) Lessons from Honeywell and Handling Unknown Unknowns
- [38:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-15-s7e21-rod-scholl-pro-tips-from-30-year-analyst-for-accurate-simulations-fea-cfd#t=2320) Corporate Pitfalls: Siloed Experts and Stagnant Knowledge
- [43:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-15-s7e21-rod-scholl-pro-tips-from-30-year-analyst-for-accurate-simulations-fea-cfd#t=2634) Finding Niche Experts and Community Engagement

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Epsilon FEA (company)
- Honeywell (company)
- PADT (company)
- ANSYS (tool)
- CFD (other)
- FEA (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [How Simulation Technology is Reshaping Product Design w/ Dr. Masha Petrova](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-05-21-how-simulation-technology-is-reshaping-product-design-w-dr-masha-petrova) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Industrial design prototyping vs simulations - IDology #21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2024-04-30-industrial-design-prototyping-vs-simulations-idology-21) (IDology)
- [S3 E1: Mastering Tech Adoption and The Hardware Development Workflow with Jon Hirshtick](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2025-09-30-s3-e1-mastering-tech-adoption-and-the-hardware-development-workflow-with-jon-hir) (The Builder Circle)
- [Simulation as an Enabler: Pan Michaleris & Erik Denlinger on the Evolution of Additive FEA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-05-06-simulation-as-an-enabler-pan-michaleris-erik-denlinger-on-the-evolution-of-addit) (Additive Snack)
- [An Interview with Steve Kreuzer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-16-an-interview-with-steve-kreuzer) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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