Abstract: Medium-low grade non-oriented silicon steel is rolled often by universal crown mill(UCM) during cold rolling. Its shape quality is dependent on the coordinated control of several shape adjustment devices of UCM. In order to understand the shape control characteristics of UCM, coupling model of six-high rolling mill, based on two-dimensional varying thickness finite element rolls elastic deformation model and three-dimensional finite difference strip plastic deformation model, is setup for the detailed analysis of shape control performances of UCM, including the shape regulation and control efficacy of work roll bending, intermediate roll bending and its shifting, contact force distribution between rolls, et al. On the basis of these, shape control tactics of UCM is put forward for instructing the production, and also its deficiency in the control of transverse thickness deviation is pointed out. In view of the large transverse thickness deviation of non-oriented silicon steel rolled by UCM in industrial production, edge variable crown(EVC) work roll with high order curve function is developed after large amount of simulating calculation. By using this work roll, the percentage of transverse thickness deviation of all varieties of non-oriented silicon steel not greater than 10 m rises from 24% to 99% after the application of EVC work roll. The average of transverse thickness deviation is less than 6 m, far less than the previous 13 m before the use of EVC.

Key words: Cold rolling, Non-oriented silicon steel, Roll contour, Shape control