Hello,
I was wondering if it's possible to drive an IGBT with a simple 555 PWM which has a NPN transistor on the output which then drives the IGBT, or will I need more complex circuitry?

Thank you.

 

You could get away with driving a MOSFET, howbeit slowly--precludes high frequencies.
The IGBT requires high currents to force it off quickly and this takes additional circuitry.

 

@jimkieth- that was true of the early IGBT's, due to 'tail currents'. The newer ones I'm pretty sure they have solved the tail current problem in them. But to be on the safe side a totem pole drive is still a good idea.

@wauuw- a IGBT/mosfet driver ic is a better way to go than a transistor. Is your circuit a low side switch?

 

Just having an NPN transistor might allow the IGBT to turn ON or OFF, but not both.

Your gate driver needs to be able to actively sink from and source to the IGBT's gate.

 

The 555 has two NPN transistors in a totem-pole output which can source or sink about 200mA.