<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-05-038163
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20050701
<FILING-DATE>20050705
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20050705
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES INC
<CIK>0001113232
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3559
<IRS-NUMBER>341818596
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>108 CHERRY HILL DRIVE
<CITY>BEVERLY
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01915
<PHONE>978 232 4001
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>108 CHERRY HILL DRIVE
<CITY>BEVERLY
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01915
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>EATON SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT INC
<DATE-CHANGED>20000501
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BASSETT STEPHEN G
<CIK>0001250317
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-30941
<FILM-NUMBER>05934947
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>55 CHERRY HILL DRIVE
<CITY>BEVERLY
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01915
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd84233.xml
<DESCRIPTION>BASSETT 2005 RSU
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001113232</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACLS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001250317</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BASSETT STEPHEN G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>108 CHERRY HILL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01915</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40058</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>47558</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are issuable on restricted stock units granted under the Company's 2000 Stock Plan.  1/3 of the shares will issue upon vesting on each of July 1, 2007, 2008 and 2009, provided the reporting person is employed by Axcelis Technologies, Inc. on those dates. No voting or other stockholder rights attach to the units until the shares are issued.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lynnette C. Fallon, as attorney-in-fact for Stephen G. Bassett</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
