To　better　understand　the　performance　of　a　hydrostatic　spindle　in　motion,　the　impact　of　oil　film　slip　on　the　load　capacity,　stiffness　and　dynamic　stiffness　of　the　spindle　is　studied.　Based　on　the　velocity　slip　boundary　conditions,　the　stress　characteristic　equation　and　the　liquid　flow　equation　of　the　hydrostatic　spindle　are　formed　into　a　coupled　equation　system　that　is　used　to　numerically　analyze　the　load　capacity　stiffness　of　the　spindle　system.　The　spindle　properties　and　oil　film　characteristics　are　considered　in　the　initial　stage　of　oil　film.　From　the　simulation　results,　it　is　concluded　that　the　occurrence　of　oil　film　slip　results　in　the　increase　of　the　bearing　capacity　and　stiffness,　with　a　highest　increase　rate　of　approximately　40%.　The　existence　of　the　slip　phenomenon　is　confirmed　in　the　oil　film　flow　process　of　a　spindle　system,　with　a　slip　length　of　approximately　3　pm　determined　by　the　simulation　results,　which　are　verified　by　the　measurement　of　the　axial　stiffness　of　the　spindle.　This　study　explores　a　new　method　for　the　analysis　of　the　static　and　dynamic　performance　and　the　determination　of　the　dynamic　stiffness　of　a　hydrostatic　spindle.　(C)　2015　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　on　behalf　of　The　Society　of　Manufacturing　Engineers.