The　objective　of　this　work　is　to　study　the　static　and　dynamic　behavior　of　a　shaft　supported　by　hydrostatic　bearings.　The　hydrostatic　bearing　consists　of　a　thrust　bearing　and　a　radial　bearing　fed　by　orifice　restrictors.　The　radial　bearing　consists　of　six　rectangular　symmetry　oil　pockets　that　have　the　same　depth;　the　thrust　bearing　consists　of　eight　fan-shaped　oil　pockets.　Static　and　dynamic　modeling　was　performed　in　order　to　investigate　the　effect　of　the　eccentricity　ratio　on　the　film　thickness,　stiffness　and　deformation　of　a　spindle　system.　In　the　first　step,　the　deformation　of　the　spindle　caused　by　the　parameter　change　is　studied　according　to　a　static　model.　In　the　second　step,　the　vibration　response　caused　by　the　eccentricity　is　analyzed　with　a　dynamic　model.　In　the　third　step,　the　effect　of　imbalanced　vibration　on　the　machining　accuracy　is　analyzed;　the　imbalance-induced　force　in　two　directions　is　derived　from　the　dynamic　results.　This　research　shows　that　the　location　and　stiffness　of　the　bearing　affect　the　machining　accuracy　to　a　high　degree.　(C)　2010　The　Society　of　Manufacturing　Engineers.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.