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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Nv46vmr0/qd33TzJ+bG0g+zupNEP8rTjz6AM15pABStCS4gpcCpvqrL0afYjDj/3
 G/V31hyXUqSKJzW5dmHjZQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-028886.txt : 20031104
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-028886.hdr.sgml : 20031104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031104140454
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-028886
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUMA MARY G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001158015

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30941
		FILM NUMBER:		03975584

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NORDSON CORP
		STREET 2:		28601 CLEMENS RD
		CITY:			WESTLAKE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44145

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NORDSON CORP
		STREET 2:		28601 CLEMENS RD
		CITY:			WESTLAKE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44145

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001113232
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC [3559]
		IRS NUMBER:				341818596
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		55 CHERRY HILL DRIVE
		CITY:			BEVERLY
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01915
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9782324001

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EATON SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000501
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd21374.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PUMA FORM 4 NOVEMBER 2003
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-03</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001113232</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACLS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001158015</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PUMA MARY G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>55 CHERRY HILL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01915</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>11.48</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-03</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>125000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0.00</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2007-05-01</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-01</value></expirationDate><u
nderlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>125000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>125000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Granted Pursuant to the Axcelis Technologies, Inc. 2000 Stock Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Excercisable as to 25% of the total shares on each of 5/01/2004, 5/01/2005, 5/01/2006 and 5/01/2007.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Lynnette C. Fallon, as Attorney-in-Fact for Mary G. Puma</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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