-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NVaBSu+GAatgg08QRUJ0+52f06l/BFN6ksNtRo+UvRxO5vZx9vpYRJerGxWGu1Sg
 QLB2CbldzlaNT8W5FJdxEQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001250922-03-000007.txt : 20030904
<SEC-HEADER>0001250922-03-000007.hdr.sgml : 20030904
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030904172005
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001250922-03-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030902
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030904

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000103145
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC [3559]
		IRS NUMBER:				112989601
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TERMINAL DR
		CITY:			PLAINVIEW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11803
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5163498300

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VACUUM ELECTRONIC MANUFACTURING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700408

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLOMBO PAUL E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001160079

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16244
		FILM NUMBER:		03882102

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4900 CONSTELLATION DRIVE
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55127
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6514945523

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4900 CONSTELLATION DRIVE
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55127
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000103145</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VECO</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001160079</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COLOMBO PAUL E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VEECO-APPLIED EPI INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4900 CONSTELLATION DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. PAUL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55127</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Prepaid Variable Forward Contract (right to sell)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>600000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>20.8056</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-09-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-09-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><va
lue>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>600000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>600000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Variable Prepaid Forward Agreement, and related confirmation, both dated September 2, 2003, representing the obligation of Mr. Colombo to deliver up to the maximum of 600,000 shares of Common Stock three (3) years from the date of the confirmation, except that the number of shares to be delivered will be reduced (if applicable and subject to applicable adjustments) if the average market price for the Company's shares is between $20.8056 and $24.9667 per share for a specified period prior to the delivery date.  A
lternatively, Mr. Colombo may deliver the cash equivalent of some or all of such shares.
</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Paul E. Colombo</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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