<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001044590</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNOVA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UNA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001165752</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REYNOLDS STEPHEN P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PUGET ENERGY, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10608 N.E. 4TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BELLEVUE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98004</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>2005-04-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>332</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.5713</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>332</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquired during the quarter immediately preceding transaction date, pursuant to elections of the reporting person with respect to directors' fees, under the UNOVA, Inc. Director Stock Option and Fee Plan, which acquisition is exempt from Section 16(b) pursuant to Rule 16b-3(d)(1).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Average price of the Company's Common Stock during the quarter immediately preceding transaction date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Cathy D. Younger  For: Stephen P. Reynolds</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
