A journal bearing simulation tool developed to aid the design of the MIT microturbo-machine bearings is described. This tool uses an orbit method with a pseudospectral technique for treating the Reynolds equation. Comparison is made to various published data. Two types of stability chart are presented and their application to turbo-machine bearing design is discussed. Simulations of imbalance, noncircular geometry, and nonuniform pressures at the bearing ends are also demonstrated.