Income (Loss) Per Common Share - Shares Excluded from EPS (Details) - shares shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Unvested participating shares
Basic income (loss) per share
Unvested participating shares excluded from basic weighted average shares outstanding since the securityholders are not obligated to fund losses	2	166	2	166
Common Stock
Diluted income (loss) per share
Common share equivalents excluded from the diluted weighted average shares outstanding since Veeco incurred a net loss and their effect would be antidilutive	16	220	17	275
Non-participating shares
Diluted income (loss) per share
Shares excluded from the diluted calculation as their effect would be antidilutive	2,617	1,956	2,469	1,628
Convertible Notes
Diluted income (loss) per share
Shares excluded from the diluted calculation as their effect would be antidilutive	8,618	8,618	8,618	8,618