A drive mechanism drives a slide in a cycle along a centerline. The slide includes a press center symmetrical with a frame centerline. A frame includes guides aligned with the press center and the slide to eliminate rotative force upon the slide during operation and increase precision. The drive mechanism includes a first and a second link coupling a main gear to a crank shaft to lower a slide speed near a bottom dead center position and increase a slide speed near a top dead center thereby increasing a press force at the bottom dead center position and speeding cycle turn.