A machine slide tool assembly and a drive mechanism that includes a slide plate slideably mounted on guide members connected between opposed end supports and which slide plate is reciprocally driven by a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a piston and cylinder arrangement disposed between the opposed end supports wherein a piston is displaceable within the cylinder by fluid pressure alternatively acting on the opposed ends of the piston, and which piston includes a gear wheel rotatably journaled thereto which is disposed in meshing relationship with a gear rack connected to the slide plate whereby the reciprocating motion of the piston is transmitted to the slide plate for enhancing the linear displacement of the slide plate relative to the linear displacement of the piston within its cylinder.