diff --git a/cadquery/occ_impl/exporters/svg.py b/cadquery/occ_impl/exporters/svg.py
index d2b9c421c..b3f907171 100644
--- a/cadquery/occ_impl/exporters/svg.py
+++ b/cadquery/occ_impl/exporters/svg.py
@@ -59,28 +59,6 @@ class UNITS:
     IN = "in"
 
 
-def guessUnitOfMeasure(shape):
-    """
-    Guess the unit of measure of a shape.
-    """
-    bb = BoundBox._fromTopoDS(shape.wrapped)
-
-    dimList = [bb.xlen, bb.ylen, bb.zlen]
-    # no real part would likely be bigger than 10 inches on any side
-    if max(dimList) > 10:
-        return UNITS.MM
-
-    # no real part would likely be smaller than 0.1 mm on all dimensions
-    if min(dimList) < 0.1:
-        return UNITS.IN
-
-    # no real part would have the sum of its dimensions less than about 5mm
-    if sum(dimList) < 10:
-        return UNITS.IN
-
-    return UNITS.MM
-
-
 def makeSVGedge(e):
     """
     Creates an SVG edge from a OCCT edge.
@@ -125,12 +103,14 @@ def getPaths(visibleShapes, hiddenShapes):
     return (hiddenPaths, visiblePaths)
 
 
-def getSVG(shape, opts=None):
+def getSVG(shape, unitOfMeasure=UNITS.MM, opts=None):
     """
     Export a shape to SVG text.
 
     :param shape: A CadQuery shape object to convert to an SVG string.
     :type Shape: Vertex, Edge, Wire, Face, Shell, Solid, or Compound.
+    :param unitOfMeasure: The unit of measurement to be used for the svg (mm/inch).
+    :type UNITS: MM, or INCH.
     :param opts: An options dictionary that influences the SVG that is output.
     :type opts: Dictionary, keys are as follows:
         width: Document width of the resulting image.
@@ -167,7 +147,7 @@ def getSVG(shape, opts=None):
         d.update(opts)
 
     # need to guess the scale and the coordinate center
-    uom = guessUnitOfMeasure(shape)
+    uom = unitOfMeasure
 
     width = float(d["width"])
     height = float(d["height"])
@@ -289,14 +269,14 @@ def getSVG(shape, opts=None):
     return svg
 
 
-def exportSVG(shape, fileName: str, opts=None):
+def exportSVG(shape, fileName: str, unitOfMeasure=UNITS.MM, opts=None):
     """
     Accept a cadquery shape, and export it to the provided file
     TODO: should use file-like objects, not a fileName, and/or be able to return a string instead
     export a view of a part to svg
     """
 
-    svg = getSVG(shape.val(), opts)
+    svg = getSVG(shape.val(), unitOfMeasure, opts)
     f = open(fileName, "w")
     f.write(svg)
     f.close()