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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QTISmIiz0RLJLfWSx15+UruBgF/DNyt0XnYMZgMpbn9dyr1sDm5doivlwpZOm91O
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001044321-03-000174.txt : 20031106
<SEC-HEADER>0001044321-03-000174.hdr.sgml : 20031106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031106160034
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001044321-03-000174
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031104
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031106

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TEGAL CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000931059
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC [3559]
		IRS NUMBER:				680370244
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2201 S MCDOWELL BLVD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 6020
		CITY:			PETALUMA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94955
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7077635600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2201 S MCDOWELL BLVD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 6020
		CITY:			PETALUMA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94955

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARXE AUSTIN W & GREENHOUSE DAVID M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001044321

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26824
		FILM NUMBER:		03982418

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		153 E 53RD ST
		STREET 2:		55ST FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2122076500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		153 E 53RD ST
		STREET 2:		55TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-04</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000931059</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TEGAL CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TGAL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001044321</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARXE AUSTIN W &amp; GREENHOUSE DAVID M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>153 E 53RD ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>55TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25400</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.5145</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8365209</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Limited Partnerships</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Convertible Bonds</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8890</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-07-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-06-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25400</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2427550</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Limited Partnership</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This is a joint filing by Austin W. Marxe (Marxe) and David M. Greenhouse (Greenhouse).  They share voting and investment control over all securities owned by Special Situations Private Equity Fund, LP (PE), Special Situations Technology Fund, L.P. (Tech) and Special Situations Technology II, L.P. (Tech II), respectively. 800 shares of Common Stock, 1,456,460 Bond Cvt for 4,161,314 Common Shares &amp; 857,131 Wts are held by PE, 159,032 Bonds Cvt for 454,377 Common Shares &amp; 93,515 Wts are held by Tech and 812,058 Bonds Cvt for 2,320,165 Common Shares &amp; 477,906 Wts are held by Tech II. The interest of Marxe and Greenhouse in the above shares owned by PE, Tech, and Tech II is limited to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Austin W. Marxe</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David M. Greenhouse</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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