Abstract: A new pilot mill was developed for the experimental rolling of difficult-to-deform materials. Hydraulic tension cylinders and clamps were used for direct pulling tension rolling on short material specimen. In order to realize the differential speed rolling with continuously variable speed ratio， two main motors were used and the motors’ speeds were adjusted respectively for upper and lower work rolls. Warm rolling process was implemented through strip resistance heating. The clamps at the two sides of the mill were used as the positive and negative electrodes， while low voltage and high current DC power was acted on the strip specimen. These functions were realized on the new pilot mill for experimental validation. The 3% Si silicon steel was rolled with direct pulling tension and differential speed rolling mode. With speed ratio of 1.12， the total thickness reduction was increased by 28.4%. The AZ31 magnesium alloy was rolled with direct pulling tension and warm rolling mode， and the thickness was reduced from 4mm to 0.633mm with good surface quality. This new pilot mill can be used as an effective tool for the difficult-to-deform material experimental research.

Key words: pilot mill, difficult-to-deform material, direct pulling tension rolling, differential speed rolling, warm rolling