-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BeSBDmrMBFWM38DkvGFW/tozibSDFL3Io40f5YoLKP1XhxTsxqmkMkDhGEwZ+geL
 F6TKd5n5hXkm+y5GE7/rIQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-005877.txt : 20040312
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-005877.hdr.sgml : 20040312
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040312093916
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-005877
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040309
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040312

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BRAUN MARLIN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001283120

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16244
		FILM NUMBER:		04664278

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O VESCO INSTRUMENTS INC
		STREET 2:		100 SUNNYSIDE BLVD., SUITE B
		CITY:			WOODBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11797

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000103145
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC [3559]
		IRS NUMBER:				112989601
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TERMINAL DR
		CITY:			PLAINVIEW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11803
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5163498300

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VACUUM ELECTRONIC MANUFACTURING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700408
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-09</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000103145</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VECO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001283120</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRAUN MARLIN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 SUNNYSIDE BOULEVARD, SUITE B</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOODBURY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11797</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP Compound Semicndtr.</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16098</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock option granted 9/20/01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.80</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-09-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock option granted 4/29/02</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-04-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock option granted 6/25/02</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.68</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-06-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock option granted 4/1/03</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.48</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-03-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option becomes exercisable in 33 1/3% increments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Gregory A. Robbins, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>ex24mbraun.txt
<TEXT>
POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints each of John P. Kiernan and Gregory A.
Robbins, signing singly, the undersigned's true and lawful
attorney-in-fact to:

(1)	execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director of
Veeco Instruments Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4 and 5 in
accordance with Section 16 (a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;

(2)	do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete
and execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5 and timely file such
form with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission and any stock exchange or similar authority; and

(3)	take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection
with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-
in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or
legally required by, the undersigned, it being understood
that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on
behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of
Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms
and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such
attorney-in-fact's discretion.

The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full
power and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing
whatsoever requisite, necessary or proper to be done in the
exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully
to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do
if personally present, with full power of substitution or
revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or
substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of
this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.
The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-
fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any
of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect
until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4
and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and
transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier
revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of
Attorney to be executed as of March 9, 2004.

Signed: /s/M.A. Braun
Printed Name:  Marlin A. Braun


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
