A feature recognition technique is the intelligent interface of CAD/CAPP. Through extracting and recognizing the tolerance and surface roughness, the design features such asholes, steps and other design features in a 3D model of parts, the CAD/CAPP can be combined efficiently, and then the CAD/CAPP/CAM system can be integrated. This technique also helps to shorten the cycle of product development, especially process preparation, and reduce the design cost. In this paper, the 3D model features recognition approaches about boundary pattern matching, volume composition, manufacturing resources, and hybridization method are reviewed, and compared in terms of identifying efficiency, identifying accuracy, identifying flexibility, machinability of features, and utilization of manufacturing resource information in a process environment is conducted on the 3D model feature recognition approaches. The main issues of machining feature recognition of the part model are also discussed, and the direction of future researches in this field is presented. It is pointed out that the development of an efficient, accurate, flexible, automatic and intelligent machining feature recognition system will become an important research topic in the field of computer integrated manufacturing in the future.