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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MDairwBPx8ceBsy+06+M5a572Ksv/jqDFUec8EAiXRdnSujtXOeuMuyxz9CO8Pbq
 kYsGnzn/koFgFTK8l1pACA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-10-016765.txt : 20101201
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-10-016765.hdr.sgml : 20101201
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101201160553
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-10-016765
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101129
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101201
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101201

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ELFTMANN JOEL A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000901381

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16244
		FILM NUMBER:		101224926

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 DRIVE
		CITY:			PLAINVIEW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11803
		BUSINESS PHONE:		516 677-0200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TERMINAL DRIVE
		CITY:			PLAINVIEW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11803

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VACUUM ELECTRONIC MANUFACTURING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700408
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000901381</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ELFTMANN JOEL A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC.,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>TERMINAL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLAINVIEW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11803</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5333</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>43.5980</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29068</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects weighted average sale price.  Actual sale prices ranged from $43.58 to $43.69 per share.  The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon the request of the SEC staff, the issuer or any security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes the sale of 2,000 shares of Common Stock held by the Elftmann Family Limited Partnership, of which Mr. Elftmann is the general partner.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Gregory A. Robbins, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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