-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 LPjuGmI7EK0bZ0QPkqAsDCa0nGBx/u1k+3oEJLfnoVuW9C8G/9K0zRnFbCkxjuzF
 OD2ZQIT0AO+MhJQUbS3JKA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001420336-10-000001.txt : 20100426
<SEC-HEADER>0001420336-10-000001.hdr.sgml : 20100426
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100426151648
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001420336-10-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100325
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100426
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100426

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Muscari Carl
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001420336

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26824
		FILM NUMBER:		10770245

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2201 S.MCDOWELL BLVD
		CITY:			PETALUMA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94954

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 SOUTH MCDOWELL BLVD
		CITY:			PETALUMA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94954
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7077635600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2201 SOUTH MCDOWELL BLVD
		CITY:			PETALUMA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94954
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001420336</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Muscari Carl</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2201 S.MCDOWELL BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PETALUMA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94954</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.2</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2010-03-25</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4166</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.2</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-04-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-03-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4166</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16998</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <remarks>Options vest monthly over 12 months</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Christine Hergenrother</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-04-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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