UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K


              Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):
                               September 25, 2002


                       Cabot Microelectronics Corporation
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


            Delaware                       000-30205               36-4324765
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(State or other jurisdiction of     (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
         incorporation)                                          Identification)


                    870 Commons Drive, Aurora, Illinois 60504
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               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (630) 375-6631
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              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                 Not applicable
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          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)






Item 5.  Other Events.

         On September 25, 2002, Cabot Microelectronics Corporation issued a
press release entitled "Martin M. Ellen To Assume Role At Snap-On Incorporated,"
a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by
reference.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c)      Exhibits

                  The following exhibits are filed herewith:

                  99.1 Text of press release, dated September 25, 2002,
                       entitled "Martin M. Ellen To Assume Role At Snap-On
                       Incorporated."




                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                              CABOT MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION


Date: September 26, 2002                      By: /s/ DANIEL S. WOBBY
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Daniel S. Wobby
                                                  Corporate Controller
                                                  [Principal Accounting Officer]

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                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number              Title
-------             -----


99.1                Text of press release, dated September 25, 2002, entitled
                    "Martin M. Ellen To Assume Role At Snap-On Incorporated."




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