I received my CISS unit a couple of weeks ago and was really excited to try to get it installed on my Epson WorkForce-3520. Having read the other reviews I was hoping for an easy setup and had even taken the advise of other reviewers and watched the installation video in advance on XPRO's youtube channel.
Despite my efforts this planning didn't lead to the easiest setup. First, there are NO instructions in the box. If you go to the website they will direct you to videos on installing your system and on priming your system (getting air bubbles out of the air ink lines), but having only found the installation video on youtube I was blissfully unaware that I would need to prime the system. So after breaking off my printer ink cartridge door, installing the cartridge block, and taping in the lines to allow the printer head to move (for this I had to use my own tape as the foam tape provided was too thick) I got nothing. My printer produced only blank sheets.
I knew something hadn't gone right so I checked through the comment threads on youtube CISS videos and found this "priming" which wasn't mentioned in the original video. So I went about finding the priming video for this CISS system. In the end I did find it on the XPRO website, but I wouldn't say it was the most obvious thing ever.
From there I went about priming the cartridges, but I couldn't seem to get the ink to flow. Eventually I realized that in the priming video they had removed the ink tanks from the holder. It wasn't clear why they had done this and I had assumed that it was just to show more clearly what they were doing, but when I removed my tanks I found that the ink lines were doubled under and kinked (blocking the flow). On a side note this was the first thing I was asked to check for when I contacted customer support (if its that common of a problem then mention it in your instructional video). I fixed this, re-primed the cartridges AND... printed a beautiful test sheet ENTIRELY in blue ink. This is dragging on, but in short it had taken several hours of my time to try to prime the cartridges and the ink heads had dried out. After spending a few more hours troubleshooting thinking that maybe I needed to position the tank better (above or below the level of the printer cartridges) I washed the print heads with rubbing alcohol and distilled water and now I get full color prints.
My hands were stained, my printer was more or less covered with drops of ink, I was more than a little frustrated, but it worked.
Now that its installed it seems to work well. I feel like I'm actually saving ink (despite having to dump several syringes full of ink during the priming process and mishaps). The prints are near the quality of the original epson cartridges (maybe the pigment ink system would be even closer since Epson uses pigment ink in their cartridges).
The build quality isn't great. Most of the parts feel like cheap Chinese manufacturing. The chip that connects the cartridges to the printer software is built so that it blocks the vent plugs you need access to during priming. The syringes provided for priming are incredibly cheap, thin plastic both broke by the time I was finished. The air vents they provide for the ink tanks didn't fit initially with the ink tank cover closed so I had to trim them (in retrospect this may have been because of the folded under tubing that raised the ink tanks 1/16").
Time will tell if I come back and upgrade the ranking on this system. If it runs perfectly from here out then my frustration was worth while and its probably a 4 star product, but if I end up needing to tweak and adjust it every time I want to print I will probably stick with my initial feelings and leave it here at 3 stars.
If you really do your homework and saving money is important to you this CISS system could work well for you, but don't expect it to be hassle free. You are "hacking" your printer to work with bulk ink systems and the company that sold you the printer (and wants you to buy the ink) would really rather you not do this.
So think before you jump.
Realize that you are potentially risking both your printer and your money here (I don't think epson will cover bulk ink spills or a broken off printer cartridge door warranty or not).
And then decide how you value your time and whether the potential hassle (and mess) is worth the savings.
3 stars
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Received my CIS system superfast. Setting this up took some time, removing the lid from the ink cartridge holder, without damaging it, was the most difficult part. Inserting the ink cartridge and routing the plastic supply line was pretty simple, but with the Epson WF 3540 printer I have, the supply line should have been a little longer. I found I couldn`t situate the reservoir where I needed to. I removed the air plugs from ink container and turned on the printer and it worked first time. I had moved the reservoir around, a few times, before I found ink was slopping out from the breather holes and making a mess. I then realized the air filter valves weren`t included. They should be. The least little movement of the reservoir makes the ink slop out of the tops. It is working great, aside from a few minor issues, and it will save me from spending a fortune on manufacturer ink.
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The price of this kit is about the same as a new set of OEM cartridges so I figured it was worth a try. Install instructions and video on the inkxpro web site use a different model than my WF-3520. It seems with my model there is less room between the ink tubes and the printing head. I tried fastening the ink tubes with double sided tape (per instructions) but the tape did not hold. I then used some Goop adhesive instead and that has been holding and its been a few weeks now. My ink tubes have some air bubbles still but that has not affected any printouts yet. After replacing the OEM cartridges with the inkxpro ones I did get an error about ink cartridges not recognized but I was able to get past this using the reset button on the inkxpro head (per instructions). My kit came with a couple extra batteries and some syringes which were not needed. I wouldn't be surprised if the ink tubes come loose or the air bubbles cause some bad printouts but so far so good.
Honest reviews on XPRO series DYE Ink CISS for Epson Workforce WF-3520 WF-3540
Have used for two months since we got it installed and 2500 sheets of paper. Not even dent in the ink supply!
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The quality of the print isn't as good as Epson print cartridges but its good enough and i feel good knowing that these tanks are the equivalent of many of them. They are easy to refill too. You may need to bend the heads to align them flush to the printer. I saw this done in thailand a few months ago and now i've done it myself too! No more paying huge prices for cartridges, its just not natural! :)
