It depends on a number of factors. Crucial among these is:
- keeping the ink flowing i.e. not allowing the ink to dry out in the print head. On the majority of non piezo printers (HP Lexmark Canon) when the ink runs out and the user continues to try printing, continued use results in permanent & irreversible printhead damage.
- Less serious but nevertheless important is not to leave the printhead exposed to air. If an empty cartridge is removed from a printer the print head should ideally be protected from air by covering it with a tape to prevent drying out. A cartridge well looked after can be successfully refilled many times - contrary to what some cartridge manufacturers say. The key is to keep the ink flowing by "topping up" and not to allow it to "run out"