Tool Table Understanding

Hi Guys, you helped me find an error in LinuxCNC and gave me the fix. So here I go again.

In the tool table what does the Z setting actually do? I have a workable setup but in the table I have set the Z to .5", and then if I home to the top of the work and then touch off .5" above this it seems to work. Am I on the right track here? So if I set the table Z to 0 then I could touch off on the work?

When I ran this a number of years ago I was in the habit (I think) of touching off Z on the work and then if would make some clearance above the part and ready to run.

Thanks!

The tool table entries are used for automatic tool offset compensation (ie G41/G42 for radius and G43 for tool length) after a 'Tx M6' command.
If you don't use tool compensation but touch off each tool manually then the tool table is pretty much irrelevant.

The Z setting comes into its own if you have repeatable tool holders (I have TTS). You can premeasure your tools and 3D probe. I do this off line using  a toolsetter and a tiny granite plate from Tormach. It has a hole in it for the TTS holders so they sit flat on the plate.
Using QTdragon, you probe for the surface with tool 99 which holds the probe.
Then you can do a tool change to your desired tool and Z0 will be the surface of your workpiece.
This lets you generate a single gcode file for all tools, whereas my mate runs out gcode for every tool seperately and touches off as you would on a manual mill each time,