Abstract: A novel toggle type of mechanical press mechanism for experiment teaching was optimized. The kinematic model of the mechanical press was established by the complex vector method. By doing so, expressions of the displacement, velocity, and acceleration of a slider were deduced. According to the kinematic model, the optimization model of the mechanism was obtained by the genetic algorithm for minimizing the top speed and velocity fluctuation during the operating stroke. The working velocity of the press was low and uniform. Compared with the original data, the maximum displacement, stretch angle, quick return characteristic, and maximum acceleration have been improved after optimization, which proves that the design requirements have been achieved.