A consumable assembly (18, 118, 272, 318) for use in an extrusion-based layered deposition system, the consumable assembly (18, 118, 272, 318) comprising: a container portion (34, 274, 334) configured to retain a supply of filament wherein the container portion (34, 274, 334) is offset from the extrusion-based layered deposition system; a pump portion; a guide tube (36, 276, 336) interconnecting the pump portion (38, 238, 338) and the container portion (34, 274, 334), wherein the guide tube (36, 276, 336) is configured to guide the filament from the container portion (34, 274, 334) to the pump portion (38, 238, 338); said pump portion (38, 238, 338) being configured to be removably inserted in a mount (30, 230) of the extrusion-based layered deposition system to extrude the filament in a molten state, wherein the mount is disposed in a build chamber of the extrusion-based layered deposition system, the pump portion (38, 238, 338) comprising: a casing connected to the guide tube, the casing defining an inner pathway for guiding the filament from the guide tube; a drive mechanism (48, 348) retained by the casing, and configured to feed successive portions of the filament and a motor configured to operate the drive mechanism; a liquefier region including a liquefier tube (290, 390) and configured to at least partially melt the successive portions of the filament fed by the drive mechanism (48, 348) configured to feed successive portions of the filament to provide the filament in the molten state; a heater configured to heat at least a portion of the liquefier tube, thereby at least partially melting the successive portions of the filament fed by the drive mechanism to provide the material of the filament in the molten state; an extrusion tip (52, 352) disposed downstream from the heater component and configured to provide an exit location for extruding the material of the filament in the molten state; an electrical connection between the container portion and the pump portion configured to receive electrical power from the extrusion- based layered deposition system when the pump portion (38, 238, 338) is inserted in the mount; and wherein the pump portion (38, 238, 338) is removable from the mount such that the pump portion (38, 238, 338), the guide tube (36, 276, 336), and the container portion (34, 274, 334) are removable together from the extrusion-based layered deposition system. a container portion (34, 274, 334) configured to retain a supply of filament wherein the container portion (34, 274, 334) is offset from the extrusion-based layered deposition system; a pump portion; a guide tube (36, 276, 336) interconnecting the pump portion (38, 238, 338) and the container portion (34, 274, 334), wherein the guide tube (36, 276, 336) is configured to guide the filament from the container portion (34, 274, 334) to the pump portion (38, 238, 338); said pump portion (38, 238, 338) being configured to be removably inserted in a mount (30, 230) of the extrusion-based layered deposition system to extrude the filament in a molten state, wherein the mount is disposed in a build chamber of the extrusion-based layered deposition system, the pump portion (38, 238, 338) comprising: a casing connected to the guide tube, the casing defining an inner pathway for guiding the filament from the guide tube; a drive mechanism (48, 348) retained by the casing, and configured to feed successive portions of the filament and a motor configured to operate the drive mechanism; a liquefier region including a liquefier tube (290, 390) and configured to at least partially melt the successive portions of the filament fed by the drive mechanism (48, 348) configured to feed successive portions of the filament to provide the filament in the molten state; a heater configured to heat at least a portion of the liquefier tube, thereby at least partially melting the successive portions of the filament fed by the drive mechanism to provide the material of the filament in the molten state; an extrusion tip (52, 352) disposed downstream from the heater component and configured to provide an exit location for extruding the material of the filament in the molten state; a casing connected to the guide tube, the casing defining an inner pathway for guiding the filament from the guide tube; a drive mechanism (48, 348) retained by the casing, and configured to feed successive portions of the filament and a motor configured to operate the drive mechanism; a liquefier region including a liquefier tube (290, 390) and configured to at least partially melt the successive portions of the filament fed by the drive mechanism (48, 348) configured to feed successive portions of the filament to provide the filament in the molten state; a heater configured to heat at least a portion of the liquefier tube, thereby at least partially melting the successive portions of the filament fed by the drive mechanism to provide the material of the filament in the molten state; an extrusion tip (52, 352) disposed downstream from the heater component and configured to provide an exit location for extruding the material of the filament in the molten state; an electrical connection between the container portion and the pump portion configured to receive electrical power from the extrusion- based layered deposition system when the pump portion (38, 238, 338) is inserted in the mount; and wherein the pump portion (38, 238, 338) is removable from the mount such that the pump portion (38, 238, 338), the guide tube (36, 276, 336), and the container portion (34, 274, 334) are removable together from the extrusion-based layered deposition system.