<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-18-059708.txt : 20181121
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-18-059708.hdr.sgml : 20181121
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20181121160644
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-18-059708
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20181121
FILED AS OF DATE:		20181121
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20181121

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KURTZWEIL JOHN T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184588

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30941
		FILM NUMBER:		181198267

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.
		STREET 2:		2901 VIA FORTUNA
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78746

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:		108 CHERRY HILL DRIVE
		CITY:			BEVERLY
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01915
		BUSINESS PHONE:		978-787-4000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		108 CHERRY HILL DRIVE
		CITY:			BEVERLY
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01915

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EATON SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000501
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-11-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184588</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KURTZWEIL JOHN T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>108 CHERRY HILL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01915</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.61</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28726</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This sale of 2500 shares was made to cover the tax liability incident to the vesting of 5,637 shares on November 16, 2018 under a restricted stock unit granted to the director on May 16, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Of the shares held as of November 20, 2018, 2,813 were issuable on vesting of restricted stock units granted to the director under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan and are subject to forfeiture.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lynnette C. Fallon, as attorney in fact for John T. Kurtzweil</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-11-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
