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

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-12-03</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2012-12-07</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000772897</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HTCH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001563504</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ruzicka Dale M.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>40 WEST HIGHLAND PARK DRIVE NE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HUTCHINSON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55350</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Vice President of Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9017.26</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 4,666 restricted stock unit shares that had not vested as of the date of the original report.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This amount reflects 874 fewer shares than originally reported. These shares were sold prior to the orginal filing to satisfy tax obligations upon vesting and settlement of restricted stock units. The 874 additional shares were on two Form 4 reports filed by the reporting person after his original filing.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Joshua L. Colburn, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-10-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
