Design and performance details are given for a facility developed to obtain the mechanical properties of materials under high heating rate or transient temperature conditions and medium strain rates. The system uses self-resistance heating and is applicable to materials possessing electrical resistivities ranging from that of aluminum to that of graphite. Heating rates as high as 2000 K/s in graphite are attained under controlled conditions. Methods of measuring temperature and the effects of expected temperature distributions are discussed. A method for measuring strain during transient temperature conditions to 3000 K is described. Finally, results are presented for the stress-strain behavior of Type 316 stainless steel and ATJ(S) graphite obtained for heating times of few seconds.