Summary of Fair Values of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed Purchase Price Allocation (Details) $ in Thousands, £ in Millions	Jan. 10, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 10, 2017 GBP (£)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 10, 2017 GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			$ 150,278		$ 108,128
Thing Magic
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Inventory	$ 2,023
Intangible assets	7,283
Goodwill	9,976
Total assets acquired	19,282
Other liabilities	95
Total liabilities assumed	95
Total purchase price	19,187
Laser Quantum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash	15,343
Accounts receivable	2,739
Inventory	6,332
Property and equipment	1,700
Intangible assets	38,955
Goodwill	31,459
Other assets	717
Total assets acquired	97,245
Accounts payable	796
Other liabilities	2,068
Deferred tax liabilities	7,110
Total liabilities assumed	9,974
Total fair value of assets, net of fair value of liabilities	87,271
Less: fair value of equity interest previously held by Novanta	34,637
Less: fair value of noncontrolling interest	21,582			£ 17.7
Total purchase price paid by Novanta	31,052	£ 25.5
Less: cash acquired	15,343
Total purchase price	$ 15,709