Purpose:　The　purpose　of　this　paper　is　to　improve　static/dynamic　characteristics　of　active-controlled　hydrostatic　journal　bearing　by　using　fractional　order　control　techniques　and　optimizing　algorithms.　Design/methodology/approach:　Active　lubrication　has　ability　to　overcome　the　unpredictable　harsh　environmental　conditions　which　often　lead　to　failure　of　capillary　controlled　traditional　hydrostatic　journal　bearing.　The　research　develops　a　mathematical　model　for　a　servo　feedback-controlled　hydrostatic　journal　bearing　and　dynamics　of　model　is　analyzed　with　different　control　techniques.　The　fractional-order　PID　control　system　is　tuned　by　using　particle　swarm　optimization　and　Nelder　mead　optimization　techniques　with　the　help　of　using　multi-objective　performance　criteria.　Findings:　The　results　of　the　current　research　are　compared　with　previously　published　theoretical　and　experimental　results.　The　proposed　servo-controlled　active　bearing　system　is　studied　under　a　number　of　different　dynamic　situations　and　constraints　of　variable　spindle　speed,　external　load,　temperature　changes　(viscosity)　and　variable　bearing　clearance　(oil　film　thickness).　The　simulation　results　show　that　the　proposed　system　has　better　performance　in　terms　of　controllability,　faster　response,　stability,　high　stiffness　and　strong　resistance.　Originality/value:　This　paper　develops　an　accurate　mathematical　model　for　servo-controlled　hydrostatic　bearing　with　fractional　order　controller.　The　results　are　in　excellent　agreement　with　previously　published　literature.　Peer　review:　The　peer　review　history　for　this　article　is　available　at:　https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-07-2020-0272　©　2020,　Emerald　Publishing　Limited.