ACQUISITION OF FEMTOLASERS (Details) - FEMTOLASERS $ in Thousands, € in Millions			3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Feb. 11, 2015 EUR (€)	Feb. 11, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 04, 2015 EUR (€)	Jul. 04, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 04, 2015 EUR (€)	Jun. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 04, 2015 EUR (€)	Jul. 04, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Feb. 11, 2015 USD ($)
ACQUISITIONS AND FEMTOLASERS
Initial purchase price | €	€ 9.1
Initial net asset adjustment | €					€ 1.6
Revised net asset adjustment | €			€ 2.1
Adjusted purchase price							€ 7.0	$ 7,900
Purchase price deposited at closing into escrow account | €	€ 2.3
Time period for depositing into escrow from the date of closing	30 months	30 months
Repayment of outstanding loan	€ 3.6	$ 4,000
Purchase price, assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Cash				$ 78				78
Accounts receivable				1,968				1,968
Inventories				2,759				2,759
Deferred tax assets				1,019				1,019
Other assets				2,015				2,015
Goodwill				6,681				6,681
Accounts payable				(3,417)				(3,417)
Debt				(4,021)				(4,021)
Deferred tax liabilities				(1,019)				(1,019)
Other liabilities				(2,195)				(2,195)
Assets acquired and liabilities assumed, total				7,943				7,943
Supplemental pro forma financial information, Actual
Net sales				1,973				2,323
Net loss attributable to Newport Corporation				(1,359)				(1,819)
Supplemental pro forma information:
Net sales				147,977		$ 156,571		304,901	$ 305,678
Net income attributable to Newport Corporation				6,146		8,865		14,806	16,599
Pro forma increase (decrease) in amortization expense						100			$ 200
Transaction costs excluded from pro forma net income				400		$ 400
Initial Estimate
Purchase price, assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Cash										$ 78
Accounts receivable										2,007
Inventories										2,315
Deferred tax assets										596
Other assets										2,057
Goodwill										7,841
Accounts payable										(3,417)
Debt										(4,021)
Deferred tax liabilities										(1,005)
Other liabilities										(1,974)
Assets acquired and liabilities assumed, total										8,495
Adjustment
Purchase price, assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Accounts receivable				(39)				(39)
Inventories				444				444
Deferred tax assets				423				423
Other assets				(42)				(42)
Goodwill				(1,160)				(1,160)
Deferred tax liabilities				(14)				(14)
Other liabilities				(221)				(221)
Assets acquired and liabilities assumed, total				(552)				(552)
Developed technology
Purchase price, assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Intangible assets				1,811				1,811
Developed technology | Initial Estimate
Purchase price, assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Intangible assets										1,811
In-process research and development
Purchase price, assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Intangible assets				1,721				1,721
In-process research and development | Initial Estimate
Purchase price, assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Intangible assets										1,664
In-process research and development | Adjustment
Purchase price, assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Intangible assets				57				57
Other intangible assets
Purchase price, assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Intangible assets				$ 543				$ 543
Other intangible assets | Initial Estimate
Purchase price, assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Intangible assets										543
Selling, general and administrative expenses
ACQUISITIONS AND FEMTOLASERS
Transaction costs incurred										$ 400