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Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Warranty Costs      
Warranty period 1 year    
Advertising Expense      
Advertising expenses $ 0.6us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense $ 0.5us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense $ 0.8us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense
Concentration of Credit Risk      
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 0.7us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent $ 2.4us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent  
Maturity period of irrevocable letters of credit, minimum 0 days    
Maturity period of irrevocable letters of credit, maximum 90 days    
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-Term Investments      
Maturity period of short-term investments, minimum 3 months    
Cash and cash equivalents maintained outside the U.S. by subsidiaries (as a percent) 81.00%veco_CashAndCashEquivalentsMaintainedOutsideBySubsidiariesAsPercent 71.00%veco_CashAndCashEquivalentsMaintainedOutsideBySubsidiariesAsPercent  
Maximum      
Long-Lived Intangible Assets      
Estimated useful lives 17 years