Show (someone) the ropes is more general. I would just say 'Can you show me how to use this/it to (whatever you want to do). I guess you have seen example sentences with 'show the ropes' so I won't add any here.

You might use that phrase when starting a new job, and need to know about the work environment for example. It would never be used to ask about running a machine. You would ask maybe how to run the machine, or how to set it up. Set up meaning get it ready to do a job.

I don't think 'show me the ropes' is commonly used in oral requests. We tend to use it to describe a general situation like, "My supervisor showed me the ropes when I came on board." As a request I'd say: Can you show me how to operate/work this machine? I don't know of any idioms that are appropriate to this context.