Additive manufacturing (aka 3D printing) is invading more and more space in our everyday life. And now, a decade after the first desktop 3D printer appeared to be available for enthusiasts, we can hear about the first models of desktop 3D printers that print metals. And this is just the beginning.

In today's talk, I will make an overview of the current state of additive printing methods in light of the use of this technology for the rapid prototyping of functional devices. In particular, I will discuss the use of 3D printing for devices with a gradient index of refraction used to control the direction of an electromagnetic wave in a microwave region.