The hardness, fatigue strength and corrosion strength, etc. of workpiece can be significantly increased by covering a layer of gradient nanostructure, which has become one of the important surface strengthening technologies. Plastic deformation is an effective way to form the surface gradient nanostructures, while cutting is a typical plastic deformation process (strain can reach 13, with a strain rate of up to 106 s-1) meeting this requirement. In this paper, based on the theory of cutting fabrication of gradient nanostructures, the relevant research results were combed by clarifying the relationships between plastic deformation-strain, strain rate-dislocation, and so on, and the microstructure evolution of the cutting surface and cuttings during the cutting process was described. Besides, finite element simulation and cutting experiments were combined to analyze the feasibility of cutting machining process for preparing gradient nanostructures. Then the technical features and advantages of cutting preparation techniques were specifically addressed, such as greatly shortened production cycle of the workpiece, reduced production costs, improved processing efficiency, expanded processing range. Some basic problems faced by cutting machining process for preparation of gradient nanostructures were proposed, for example, controversy in the grain refinement mechanism and microstructure evolution, recrystallization caused by cutting heat, difficulty in meeting service requirements of the formed gradient nanostructures. Finally, the key technology and future prospects of fabrication technology by cutting fabrication were forecasted.