SiC_p/Al is a topical difficult-to-cut material. In the cutting progress, the exist of particulates reinforcements makes the machined surface of the material easily appear some defects like matrix tearing, microcrack and microvoid during cutting. In order to achieve high efficiency and low damage machining of SiC_p/Al composites, the paper summarizes macroscopic and microscopic modeling method which characterizes SiC_p/Al dynamic mechanical properties. It analyzes the hotspots and difficult problems of the multi-scale and multiphase coupling cutting finite element simulation. It summarizes the cutting performance of SiC_p/Al composite and its influencing factors from the perspectives of chip formation mechanism, surface integrity and tool wear. Research shows that removal mode and mechanism of the particulates reinforcements have a significant effect on surface formation. It discusses research progress of the mechanism of processing ductile regime and the acquiring critical conditions of brittle-ductile transition. It points out that low temperature micro cutting, ultrasonic assisted micro cutting and laser assisted micro cutting are the development directions which achieve compatible deformation and the processing conditions of ductile regime of SiC_p/Al composites.